Zirakpur: Police have busted an online fraud racket that targeted people living abroad by offering loans at low interest rates and arrested 10 accused in a special operation. Police said the group was operating from rented flats in Zirakpur, including locations in Maya Garden and Motiaz City, where the suspects were caught actively making online calls linked to the fraud.
Loan offers used as lure
Police said the accused ran a cyber fraud network in which foreign nationals were contacted through online calls and lured with offers of low-interest loans. The group allegedly falsely claimed it could arrange loans and persuaded victims to pay processing fees or advance charges in dollars.
Investigators said the accused collected money from victims without authorisation to provide loans. The operation was allegedly run in a planned manner from India while targeting people living abroad.
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Ten arrested in special operation
Police said all 10 accused were apprehended during the raid. SSP Harmandeep Singh Hans said the police team recovered nine laptops and 10 mobile phones from their possession.
A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the IT Act at Zirakpur police station. The accused have been identified as Melvin Thakkar, named as the kingpin, along with Anirudh Palhaniya, Anant Dev Kaushik, Pawan Pandevar, Sonu Diyali, Milan Sunwar, Ashiq Darji, Arjun Shetri, Prashant Om Prakash Jaiswal, and Palwinder Singh.
Probe widens into victims and transactions
Police are questioning the accused to uncover more details about the racket and identify additional victims and financial transactions linked to the operation.
Investigators said the suspects were found operating from multiple rented flats in Zirakpur, suggesting an organised setup behind the alleged fraud. The inquiry is continuing to trace the wider financial trail of the network.
