Tura | A man accused of duping residents under the pretext of collecting electricity bills has been arrested in West Garo Hills, exposing what investigators believe could be part of a larger fraud network. The accused allegedly posed as an official of Meghalaya Power Distribution Corporation Limited (MePDCL) and went door-to-door collecting money from unsuspecting citizens.
According to officials, the arrested individual has been identified as Kissan B. Marak, a resident of Ampati in South West Garo Hills district. He was apprehended on April 27 after reportedly evading arrest for a considerable period. Preliminary investigations suggest that he had been targeting residents for some time, gaining their trust by impersonating a power department employee.
FCRF Academy Launches Premier Anti-Money Laundering Certification Program
The case first came to light on April 10, when the accused allegedly visited a residence in the Nengkalgree area under Jengjal police jurisdiction. Claiming to be a MePDCL official, he collected ₹6,750 from the complainant on the pretext of electricity bill payment. However, when the victim later verified the transaction with the department, it was revealed that the accused had no affiliation with the power utility. A complaint was subsequently filed, leading to an investigation.
During the probe, authorities uncovered multiple similar incidents linked to the accused. Investigators found that he had allegedly used the same modus operandi to target several other victims. So far, at least six additional cases have been registered against him across different police station areas in the district. Officials believe that the actual number of victims could be significantly higher, as many may not have come forward yet.
Given the seriousness of the case, the scope of the investigation has been expanded. Authorities suspect that the accused may not have been acting alone and that a larger organized network could be involved. Efforts are underway to identify possible accomplices and to determine whether similar frauds have been carried out in other districts as well.
Local authorities have urged residents to remain vigilant and verify the identity of any individual claiming to represent a government department before making payments. Citizens have been specifically warned against handing over cash to persons visiting homes without proper identification or official documentation.
Experts in cyber and financial crimes point out that such frauds often rely on social engineering tactics, where criminals exploit trust and authority to deceive victims. In many cases, people tend to comply without verification when approached by someone claiming to be a government official, making them easy targets.
A cyber security analyst noted that such crimes highlight the growing misuse of identity-based trust. “These incidents are classic examples of social engineering, where fraudsters build credibility and manipulate victims into making payments. Public awareness and caution are key to preventing such crimes,” the expert said.
Authorities have also appealed to anyone who may have fallen victim to similar frauds to come forward and file complaints, which would help in uncovering the full extent of the network. Residents have been encouraged to report any suspicious individuals or activities to the nearest police station or control room.
Overall, the case goes beyond the arrest of a single accused and points toward the possibility of a broader fraud operation. Investigators expect more revelations in the coming days, which could help dismantle the network and prevent further incidents of such deception.
