PANAJI
The Cyber Crime Police on Friday arrested two persons from Gujarat for impersonating Mumbai Police and Enforcement Directorate officials and withdrawing Rs 19 lakh issued through self-cheques.
Superintendent of Police Rahul Gupta stated that Ravindra Nandaniya and Vimal Der, both hailing from Rajkot, Gujarat, are arrested as these impersonators received Rs 19 lakh as self-cheque withdrawals, part of fraudulently obtained money.
“The accused were arrested after painstaking efforts from Upleta, Rajkot, and Gujarat. Several items of incriminating material such as smartphones and bank passbooks have been recovered from their possession,” Gupta said.
Explaining the modus operandi, he stated that these cyber fraudsters would usually impersonate as government officials from agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and State Police Crime branches.
“They accuse victims of serious crimes such as money laundering and narcotics smuggling, often serving fake legal notices through fraudulent websites to create urgency and fear. These scammers would go to the extent of conducting video calls on platforms like Skype, dressed in khaki uniforms, to further intimidate victims. Under duress, the victims are coerced into sharing personal information and transferring significant sums of money to fraudulent accounts,” he added.
Police Advice
Always remember that the government and law enforcement agencies communicate through post or physical means.
One should always approach local police for clarification in case of such notices or accusations by law enforcement authorities.
As soon as one realises that they are being defrauded, they should immediately rush to the police station or cyber cell.
They may also call 1930 to report the complaint.
