The Cyber Crime Police Station of Chandigarh Police has arrested a 34-year-old man accused of defrauding a victim of ₹1.3 crore by impersonating the victim’s employer on WhatsApp. The accused, identified as Joshua Oscar Nevis, a resident of Mumbai, was taken into custody following a detailed investigation into the high-value cyber fraud.
According to the complaint, the victim received a WhatsApp message from an unknown number. The sender, posing as his employer, asked him to urgently transfer money as an advance for a new project. Believing the request to be authentic, the complainant transferred ₹1.3 crore into an ICICI Bank account in the accused’s name. It was later discovered that the entire communication was fraudulent.
Investigation and Arrest in Mumbai
The case was registered on April 20, under sections 319(2), 318(4), 336(3), 338, 340(2), and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Following raids conducted in Mumbai, Maharashtra, the accused was arrested on August 13.
The operation was carried out under the supervision of SP Cyber Crime Geetanjali Khandelwal, DSP A Venkatesh, and Inspector Eram Rizvi, SHO, Cyber Crime Police Station, Sector 17, Chandigarh.
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Accused’s Modus Operandi
During interrogation, Nevis admitted to having come into contact with an individual through Telegram, who later introduced him to another accomplice. Nevis disclosed that he had handed over his ICICI bank account kit, cheque book, debit card, and registered SIM card to this individual. These were subsequently used to execute the fraudulent transaction.
Police said the investigation is ongoing, and efforts are being made to trace the other individuals involved and to establish their role in similar cybercrimes. Nevis remains in police custody and is being interrogated for further leads.
Advisory for Citizens
Chandigarh Police has issued a public advisory warning citizens against falling prey to impersonation scams. They highlighted that fraudsters often pose as relatives, courier companies, narcotics officials, or police personnel to trick victims into transferring money under false pretenses.
The police urged citizens not to transfer money for verification, avoiding arrest, or settling fabricated cases. Instead, suspicious calls or messages should be immediately verified by contacting local police or by dialing the Cyber Crime Helpline number.
Rising Threat of Impersonation Frauds
This case adds to the growing number of cyber frauds across India involving impersonation and social engineering tactics. Law enforcement agencies have repeatedly warned that fraudsters are increasingly exploiting digital platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, and email to deceive unsuspecting individuals.
Chandigarh Police emphasized that awareness and verification remain the strongest defenses against such scams.
