Odisha Crime Branch arrests woman from Delhi for online investment fraud of Rs 87 Lakh
The Cyber Unit of Crime Branch unit of Odisha Police has reportedly arrested of a woman on charges of online investment fraud to the tune of Rs 87 Lakh.
Cuttack: The Cyber Unit of Crime Branch unit of Odisha Police has reportedly arrested of a woman on charges of online investment fraud to the tune of Rs 87 Lakh. The arrested woman has been identified as Vandana Bawa of South Delhi.
As informed by the Crime Branch, it registered a case of CID Crime Branch Cyber Crime PS Case No 09 dated 23.02.2024 U/S 419/420/465/467/468/471/120-B/34 IPC R/W Sec 66(C)/66(D) of Information Technology Act based on a written report of the informant from Saileshri Vihar in Bhubaneswar,
The investigation revealed that the informant, an employee of a private firm, was added to an unknown WhatsApp group named “101 Stock Discussion Group, purportedly led by an individual introducing himself as a Professor along with other associates.
The fraudsters, on the pretext of providing stock trading tips, IPO guidance, and investment strategies, manipulated the victim into registering on two shared web links.
They gradually gained his trust and persuaded him to deposit a total amount of around Rs 87 lakh into various accounts of fraudsters in Indusind Bank, PNB, and other banks through multiple transactions on different dates. Falling prey to their deception, the victim transferred his hard-earned money, believing it to be a legitimate investment opportunity. The case is currently under investigation.
The investigating team lead by Additional SP Ritesh Kumar Mohapatra, after analyzing the transaction details and working upon other digital evidences had camped at New Delhi and after verifying the details in the locality, have successfully identified and arrested the perpetrator of Crime namely Vandana Bawa of South Delhi.
Vandana was produced before Local Court at Saket, New Delhi and is being brought on transit remand to Odisha. The investigating team have seized various incriminating articles including a mobile Phone, 2 Indian SIM cards, an Aadhar card and a PAN card.
In the case the 10 has already frozen several bank accounts of the fraudsters, recovered and refunded an amount of Rs 10 Lakh to the Complainant.
From NCRP Samanvaya portal it has been ascertained that the same account of accused is also involved in 2 more cyber incidents of Kerala and Gujarat.
Further investigation into the case is under progress.
Meanwhile, the Crime Branch requested people to be beware of unsolicited investment offers on social media and messaging apps-always verify before investing to avoid falling victim to cyber frauds and to report such matters at 1930 Cyber helpline or at nearest police stations.
