Delhi Police CyPad busted a Mewat based cyber cheat gang that ran an inter state network of fraud online liquor delivery
New Delhi, August 15
Delhi Police CyPad busted a Mewat based cyber cheat gang that duped people in the name of online liquor delivery in well oiled racket functioning from Rajasthan and Haryana.
The accused were identified as Akram, Aneesh from Nuh in Haryana and Sharif andSammi and Ahmad Mustafa from Bharatpur, Rajasthan
DCP CyPad Anyesh Roy stated that every member of the gang has a specialized role – from posting their numbers on social media pages, to procuring SIM Cards on fake IDs and getting mule Bank Accounts, to calling potential victims, withdrawing defrauded money from ATMs, etc.
The CyPad officials said that the accused manipulated Google Maps listings of prominent liquor stores in Delhi to plant their mobile numbers.
During the raids, the Delhi Police teams received extensive support from the local district police of Bharatpur and Nuh, officials added.
The CyPad had received a complaint from Delhi resident who alleged that he got a mobile number from the Reviews column of Google Maps listing of a prominent Wine shop and after calling and confirming the items, he made the payment for the order worth ₹ 5,000/- through PayTm to the above number. Thereafter, the accused called him up and told him to make another payment of ₹ 10/- on the pretext of home delivery charges of the liquor ordered. He sent a QR Code to make the payment. After scanning the QR Code, it showed that ₹20,000/- has been paid instead to ₹ 10/-
The complainant alleged that the alleged person cheated him for an amount of ₹25,000/- in the name of online liquor sale and home delivery. Accordingly, a case was registered and investigation taken up.
In recent weeks, several such instances of online fraud in the name of home delivery of liquor have been noticed.
The officials explained that these types of frauds are done through multiple methods such as: Fake e-commerce sites offering online sale of liquor and its home delivery, Social Media posts advertising home delivery of liquor, Planting of online sale and home delivery messages in the Comments Box of Google Maps listing of prominent liquor shops.
In all these modes of committing fraud, the cheats demand advance payment for the liquor bought and also for home delivery. However, no such delivery takes place and the fraudsters usurp the advance payment. Fraudsters do not stop at that. They trick people in scanning QR Codes for fraudulent transfer of large sums of money by manipulating the amount payable. Victims get tricked by the fraudsters and end up getting cheated, despite being aware of the fact that QR code scanning always debits money from the account of the person scanning the QR Code.
The team conducted multiple raids in Rajasthan and Haryana and arrested the above five persons involved in the commission of the offence. The raiding teams were actively assisted by the local District Police of Bharatpur, Rajasthan, and Nuh, Haryana, during the raids.The case is under investigation and efforts are being made to identify the involvement of others.
Speaking more about the accused, the officials said that all these accused persons are in the age group of 21-30 and are actively involved in online frauds. They have studied up to High School level. The accused Akram issues the SIM Cards on fake IDs with pre-activated PayTM account on the SIM Cards. Aneesh further sells the SIM Cards to co-accused. Sharif is the Bank Account Holder in whose account, the money is received. He provides bogus bank accounts for receiving defrauded money. Sammi and Ahmad Mustafa are involved in making calls & chats with the victims.
Some screenshots of the Google Listing and QR Codes sent by the fraudsters is given for reference:
ADVISORY
Citizens are advised that in view of frauds in the name of online sale and home delivery of liquor, they should treat with caution, any message, advertisement or Social Media Post about online liquor delivery.
Fraudsters use QR Codes to fraudulently debit money from victim’s account. Remember: QR Codes scanning always leads to money getting debited from your account. Also, be careful about the amount mentioned in the payment link or QR Code.
While doing any online shopping, never make online advance payment if the credibility of the seller is not assured.
