ED arrests four in cyber fraud of Rs. 2.6 crores; cyber fraudster posed as a CBI officer
ED has frozen PoC of Rs 2.8 crore in the bank account of a shell company M/s Cyberforest Technology Private Limited
New Delhi, September 18
Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has arrested four persons in a case related to cyber fraud of Rs. 2.6 crore by a cyber fraudster posing as a CBI officer.
The accused have been identified as Tamilarasan Kuppan (29), Prakash (26), Aravindan I (23) and Ajith (28) in September this year from Pallipattu, Tamil Nadu All the four accused were involved in incorporation of shell companies and opening of bank accounts, through which Proceeds of Crime (PoC) generated from cyber scam were laundered.
ED has frozen PoC of Rs 2.8 crore in the bank account of a shell company M/s Cyberforest Technology Private Limited.
The victim received a call from a mobile number wherein a person was claiming to be calling from Bombay Custom Office. During the call, it was communicated to the victim that illegal goods were being sent abroad under the victim's name. Then the victim was instructed to make a ‘fund legalization’ payment as a security to ensure that no money had been illegally earned by the victim. A total amount of Rs. 2.16 Crore (approx.) was asked to be transferred by the fraudsters in three separate instalments into three different accounts provided by the caller, under the guise of ‘fund legalization’
An individual who claimed to be a CBI officer, contacted the victim over mobile phone. The fraudster continued to assert that he was a CBI officer. Furthermore, a call was received by the victim from someone who claimed to be DCP Delhi Police, to verify the authenticity of the so-called CBI officer. On the insistence of so-called government officials, victim was pressurised and extorted of his entire life savings and investments, amounting to Rs. 2.16 Crore (approx.).
By way of swift action by ED, POC to the tune of Rs 2.8 Crore have been freezed in a Bandhan Bank account of the shell company M/s Cyberforest Technology Private Limited on 12-09-2024 in which the proceeds were transferred by the victim. The whole process and activities related to transactions in the bank accounts of these shell companies were done through a WhatsApp group where Tamilarasan, Ajith, Aravindan, Prakash along with Chinese scammers were members. Investigation has revealed that Tamilarasan, one of the arrested persons was in contact with Chinese cyber fraudsters for siphoning off the amount of Rs.2.8 Crore frozen in Bandhan Bank.
It has also been revealed that Tamilarasan, AAjith, Prakash, Aravindan were actively involved in incorporation of shell companies and opening of bank accounts of these shell companies which were used to launder the proceeds of crime generated from various cyber frauds. Tamilarasan in active assistance with Ajith, Prakash, Aravindan ran a syndicate to assist Cyber Fraudsters in arranging dummy Directors, addresses and documents for incorporation of shell companies and liasoning with bank personnnel for opening of accounts through which proceeds of crime generated from cyberfrauds were laundered.
