New Delhi: A 56-year-old businessman from Vasant Kunj fell victim to a cyber fraud, losing Rs 23 lakh to scamsters who lured him with promises of high returns through a fake stock trading platform.
Delhi Police arrested a 21-year-old Kolkata resident who allegedly supplied bank accounts to the fraudsters.
The victim was added to a WhatsApp group, called “MFSL Stock Chat 40”, on April 1, where scamsters posing as market experts shared stock recommendations at discounted prices. After following their analysis for over six weeks, he was invited to join what he was told was a “security quota VIP” fast-trading account.
“This is a cyber fraud where criminals first build trust by providing seemingly legitimate market analysis. They then gradually push victims towards their fraudulent investment platform, making it appear highly professional and convincing,” DCP (south-west) Surendra Choudhary said.
The fraudsters directed the businessman to log on to a website ‘bekrx.com’ where he invested Rs 23 lakh through four transactions. They further enticed him by showing an allocation of 25,000 shares in “Kronox Lab Sciences” IPO on their platform, displaying his investment value as Rs 39 lakh with profits. However, when he tried to withdraw Rs 20 lakh, the scamsters kept delaying the payment citing “month-end settlement” and demanded more money.
Following the victim’s complaint, the cyber police station’s investigation team tracked the money trail to Kolkata. Though the main perpetrators were operating from abroad, police arrested Ayan Das, a former bank employee, who allegedly supplied bank accounts to the cyber criminals for a commission.
“During raids at his residence in Netaji Nagar, Kolkata, we found five mobile phones, one laptop, 20 debit cards, six chequebooks, passbooks and three proprietorship stamps,” a senior police officer said.
Das allegedly worked with other syndicate members, including a 22-year-old woman named Dishari Roy, whose account under ‘Roy Enterprises’ was used to funnel the fraudulent transactions. Roy has been arrested for giving her account to Das for Rs 10,000.
Efforts are under way to apprehend others involved.
Delhi Police arrested a 21-year-old Kolkata resident who allegedly supplied bank accounts to the fraudsters.
The victim was added to a WhatsApp group, called “MFSL Stock Chat 40”, on April 1, where scamsters posing as market experts shared stock recommendations at discounted prices. After following their analysis for over six weeks, he was invited to join what he was told was a “security quota VIP” fast-trading account.
“This is a cyber fraud where criminals first build trust by providing seemingly legitimate market analysis. They then gradually push victims towards their fraudulent investment platform, making it appear highly professional and convincing,” DCP (south-west) Surendra Choudhary said.
The fraudsters directed the businessman to log on to a website ‘bekrx.com’ where he invested Rs 23 lakh through four transactions. They further enticed him by showing an allocation of 25,000 shares in “Kronox Lab Sciences” IPO on their platform, displaying his investment value as Rs 39 lakh with profits. However, when he tried to withdraw Rs 20 lakh, the scamsters kept delaying the payment citing “month-end settlement” and demanded more money.
Following the victim’s complaint, the cyber police station’s investigation team tracked the money trail to Kolkata. Though the main perpetrators were operating from abroad, police arrested Ayan Das, a former bank employee, who allegedly supplied bank accounts to the cyber criminals for a commission.
“During raids at his residence in Netaji Nagar, Kolkata, we found five mobile phones, one laptop, 20 debit cards, six chequebooks, passbooks and three proprietorship stamps,” a senior police officer said.
Das allegedly worked with other syndicate members, including a 22-year-old woman named Dishari Roy, whose account under ‘Roy Enterprises’ was used to funnel the fraudulent transactions. Roy has been arrested for giving her account to Das for Rs 10,000.
Efforts are under way to apprehend others involved.
