IGP cautions public on online frauds via social media
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, June 30 2022:
IGP Cyber Crime Th Gangte has appealed to the people of the state to be extra careful against online frauds being committed through social media platforms.
Addressing a press meet held at the Officers' Club of 1st Bn Manipur Rifles here on Monday, IGP Gangte informed that report has been filed of a gang/ group of people committing online fraud via various social media platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, etc.
The gang pretends to sell products at cheaper prices before duping people of their money.
In this regard, two people were arrested by a team of Cyber Crime PS Manipur from Alwar District of Rajasthan on June 24 .
The arrested people have been identified as Zakar Khan (25) s/o Humrat Khan and Fakru (29) s/o Fazur, both hailing from Kakrali village, Rajasthan.
The a team of Cyber Crime PS Manipur led by SI Bhubonchandra was granted the transit demand for the arrested duo by a Court in Rajasthan on June 25, after which they were brought to Imphal from New Delhi on an Air India flight on June 28.According to the IGP, a report was filed on June 17 in which the complainant stated they came across an advertisement on Facebook wherein one CISF officer named Vikash Patel, who supposedly was posted at Imphal Airport, was selling his household items as he was due to be transferred on July 1.The complainant took an interest to the advertisement and provided phone number (also WhatsApp number), along with bank account number and IFSC code.
After this, the complainant deposited around Rs 75,000, which was 10 percent of the total amount of all the items allegedly being sold, to Equitas Small Finance Bank Limited account opened in the name of one Somnath Rajabhao Patil on June 17.The seller then provided the bank account number of a delivery boy and the details of the items, after which the complainant paid a total amount of Rs l,89,500.However, no items were delivered, while the delivery boy instructed for deposit of another sum of Rs 75,000.As part of police investigation, a written request was made to the Branch Manager of Equitas Small Finance Bank Limited, Solapur District, Maharashtra to provide detailed information of the transactions.
Further investigation revealed that the phone numbers used in committing the fraud were active in Alwar District, Rajasthan.
A team consisting of Cyber Crime PS SI Bhubonchandra, SI Gangmei Lansailung and havildar Zamsonmon was deputed to apprehend the culprits on June 23, the IGP informed.
He continued that on June 24, the Cyber Crime PS team assisted by Aravali Vihar PS and human intelligence arrested two people from Kakrali road near Masjid in Alwar District.
During preliminary questioning, the two people identified as Zakar and Fakru were found to be involved in the crime.
The two later admitted to the crime and Zakar revealed that the mobile phone seized from his possession was used in committing the crime and tricking the victim into believing that they were talking with the courier delivery boy.
It was also found that the duo along with their gang had committed online frauds at various other places as well.
Both of them were produced before CJM Imphal West on June 28, which then remanded the two to police custody till July 4 for further interrogation, the IGP conveyed.
Urging people not to carelessly provide, their bank account, Aadhaar card, PAN and Voter ID details to unidentified people or for any advertisements found on social media platforms; IGP Gangte appealed to the public to buy products only from known and verified sites while shopping online.
The press briefing was also attended by DIG (Intelligence) Ningshen Sangam and Cyber Crime PS SP S Hopson.
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