Cyber Crime
Cyber Crime Police Investigate Woman Accused of Defrauding Money Exchange Company
Noida : A young woman allegedly duped a money exchange company, transferring funds linked to a cybercrime victim. The incident has prompted an investigation by the Lucknow Cyber Crime Cell, which has since frozen the company’s bank account, causing significant operational disruptions.
The Fraudulent Scheme
According to the complainant, the company, located in Noida’s Sector-18, was approached by a 20-year-old woman from Nagla Charandas village. She claimed to have been admitted to a medical university in Kazan, Russia, for a six-year course. To support her claim, she presented photocopies of an offer letter, passport, visa, Aadhaar card, PAN card, and other documents. The company, convinced by her credentials, agreed to facilitate her request for foreign currency.
The woman transferred Rs 5.1 lakh to the company’s account in two transactions—partially from her own bank account and partially from another account. After deducting the commission, the company provided her with the equivalent amount in U.S. dollars. Shortly after, the woman disappeared, and her phone number became unreachable.
The Discovery of Fraud
Trouble arose when the company’s bank account was frozen following a complaint lodged by a Lucknow resident, who claimed to be the victim of cyber fraud. The victim reported to the cyber helpline that funds from their account had been transferred without authorization. A subsequent investigation by the Lucknow Cyber Cell revealed that the money transferred by the woman to the company’s account was stolen.
Ongoing Investigation
The company, now unable to access its bank account, is facing operational challenges. Employees are working to verify the documents submitted by the woman, which are suspected to be fake. They admitted that while they collect documents from every client, these are not routinely verified—a lapse they now regret.
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Efforts to contact the woman have been futile, as her phone remains switched off. The case has highlighted the importance of document verification in preventing such fraud.
Police Action
The Lucknow Cyber Crime Cell is actively investigating the matter to uncover the full extent of the fraud. The company’s frozen bank account has further complicated its ability to conduct business. Authorities have urged businesses to implement stricter document verification processes to avoid falling prey to similar scams.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the growing sophistication of cybercrime and the need for vigilance in financial transactions.
