Cyber Crime
Dehradun STF Busts Multi-Crore Chinese Investment Scam, Arrests 3 in Gurgaon
DEHRADUN: The Special Task Force (STF) of Dehradun, Uttarakhand, in collaboration with the Cyber Crime Police Station, Dehradun, has successfully busted a multi-crore Chinese investment scam and arrested three key members of a fraudulent syndicate. These members, including the gang leader, were apprehended in Gurgaon, Haryana. The syndicate was involved in duping people across India by offering fraudulent work-from-home opportunities. The case came to light following a complaint from a woman resident of Saraswati Vihar, Dehradun, who was defrauded of over Rs 21 lakh.
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Modus Operandi: The arrested individuals were in direct contact with an international cybercrime syndicate based in Dubai. Through WhatsApp and Telegram groups, they posed as representatives of well-known foreign companies like Harvey Norman, offering work-from-home tasks. Victims were lured into registering on fake websites and completing tasks that initially paid small amounts, creating a sense of legitimacy. Once trust was established, victims were asked to invest larger sums for “trading” activities, with the promise of significant profits. However, when victims attempted to withdraw their funds, they were prompted to deposit additional security money. The gang also facilitated the transfer of the defrauded money into USDT cryptocurrency accounts via apps like Binance, with the help of cybercriminals operating from abroad.
Arrest and seizure: On August 29, 2024, the STF team arrested three individuals from the parking area of Platina Tower in Gurgaon, Haryana. The arrested individuals are Pratham Shokeen , Subhash Sharma and Mukul Godhara
The police recovered several items used in the crime, including five mobile phones, five credit cards, nine ATM cards, and two Aadhaar cards. Additionally, SMS alerts linked to the bank accounts involved as well as the mobile handsets used in the fraud were seized.
Team Lead: The operation was conducted under the supervision of DySP Ankush Mishra, led by Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ayush Agarwal of the STF, Uttarakhand.
Police Station Name: The case is being handled by Cyber Crime Police Station, Special Task Force, Uttarakhand.