Cyber Crime
Uttarakhand STF Cracks Rs 84 Lakh Cyber Fraud, Arrests Accused in Kasganj
DEHRADUN, UTTARAKHAND: The Cyber Crime Police Station in Dehradun, part of Uttarakhand STF, successfully apprehended an accused involved in a cyber fraud case amounting to Rs 84.7 lakh. The accused allegedly duped a Dehradun resident by luring them into fraudulent investments through fake stock trading and IPO platforms.
The victim had registered a complaint in October 2024, stating they were enticed by online advertisements on social media platforms such as Instagram. After engaging with these ads, the victim was added to a WhatsApp group where the fraudsters posed as representatives of reputed companies like NWIL Securities and Religare Enterprises Ltd (a listed NSE company).
Using deceptive tactics, the accused convinced the victim to open a trading account on a fake platform and transferred funds under the pretext of profitable investments. The total amount defrauded stood at Rs 84.7 lakh.
Modus Operandi
The accused employed social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook to run advertisements targeting potential victims. They claimed to offer high returns through stock trading and IPO investments. Once victims were interested, they were guided to open accounts on fraudulent websites resembling legitimate trading platforms.
The funds deposited by victims were falsely displayed as yielding massive profits to build trust. Subsequently, the victims were manipulated into investing larger sums. The stolen funds were then transferred across multiple bank accounts opened using fake IDs to avoid detection.
Arrest & Seizure
Through diligent technical investigation and digital evidence collection, the police tracked the accused despite their frequent changes in location to evade arrest. The accused, identified as Durgesh, aged 29, a resident of Kasganj, Uttar Pradesh, was arrested. The police seized a mobile phone, including the SMS alert number registered with the bank account used in the fraud.
Team Led By
The operation was led by Inspector Vijay Bharti, supported by his team.
Police Station Name
The case was investigated and resolved by the Cyber Crime Police Station, Dehradun, under the guidance of Senior Superintendent of Police (STF) Navneet Singh.
Public Advisory
The police urged the public to remain cautious and avoid falling prey to attractive investment offers, fake websites, or unsolicited advertisements. Citizens are advised not to share personal information or documents with strangers or unknown callers and to verify the authenticity of any investment opportunity before proceeding. In case of suspected fraud, immediately report to the nearest police station or contact the Cyber Crime helpline at 1930.