Srinagar: Cyber Police Kashmir has arrested two Nigerian nationals who had allegedly duped a local resident of Rs 35 lakhs in an online fraud, police said on Wednesday.
The two were arrested from New Delhi following a written complaint from a resident of Baramulla district about the online fraud.
The complaint alleged that while surfing Facebook, he came in contact with some unknown user T.Jessica, who impersonated as a purchase manager of a renowned pharmaceutical company Abbott.
“The said lady enticed the complainant through Facebook messages that she has been promoted as Secretary in the said company and eventually asked the complainant to start a business of (kandu nut/palm seeds/sea nuts). The complainant was convinced by using fake offers, orders, high returns and emails etc. to purchase the said product,” the complaint said
In order to purchase the said product, the said Facebook user forwarded the contact details of one seller namely Jyoti T Kandu to the complainant.
“A business conversation started between the complainant and the fraudster Jyoti. The complainant was assured that the said nuts are valuing very high in the pharmaceutical market owing to their medicinal benefits. The complainant without knowing the plot behind the fraud invested a hefty amount of Rs 36.35 lakhs by transferring the said amount in different bank accounts of fraudsters for purchasing 50 packets of kandu nuts,” the complaint read.
On receiving the consignment of 50 packets of Kandu nuts the complainant received a fake call from Mumbai Custom office wherein the complainant was directed to deposit more money in order to be able to sell the said Kandu nuts to pharmaceutical companies.
“This created doubt in the mind of complainant. The complainant then tried to contact on the provided contact details in order to verify the facts, however he did not get any response and felt cheated/duped by the Facebook user. The complainant then approached Cyber Police Station Kashmir Zone Srinagar and lodged a complaint,” police said.
Accordingly, a case under relevant sections of law was registered in Cyber Police Station Srinagar and investigation was set into motion.
During the course of investigation, it was found that the fraud has been done by the fraudsters under a highly technically built setup and accordingly the digital footprints of the accused persons involved in the commission of offence were tracked by analysis of bank accounts that have been used for siphoning money of the complainant.
“Besides, CCTV footage and analysis of suspect phone numbers by employing high-end technical investigative skills was also carried out,” police spokesman said.
Subsequently, two Nigerians were found involved in the offences and were tracked at Vashist Park Sagerpur New Delhi,
Accordingly, on the directions of Additional Director General of Police Kashmir Zone Vijay Kumar a special team of Cyber Police Station Srinagar proceeded to New Delhi.
“After strenuous efforts and with the assistance of Delhi Police, the team was successful in nabbing these two Nigerians national culprits namely Isioma Steven son of Alika and Collins son of Onwudengor residents of Delta Agbor Nigeria at present Vashist Park Sagerpur New Delhi,” the spokesman said.
The rented accommodation was raided and thoroughly searched and during searches incriminating material including 14 cell phones of different make and models, a laptop, 14 SIM cards, a Wi-Fi router, a Wi-Fi dongle, six debit/credit cards and 45 packs of Kondu nuts/palm nuts were recovered from their possession,” he said.
