PANAJI
The Cyber Crime Police arrested a 19-year-old from Haryana for allegedly duping a Goa-based Private Limited Corporation of Rs 93.21 lakh by impersonating the company’s chairman over WhatsApp.
The accused youth identified as Nahim Khan, hailing from Faridabad (Haryana) was arrested after a detailed technical investigation led the police to his location. The Corporation’s Deputy General Manager (Accounts) lodged a complaint alleging that from December 3-5, 2024, the accused, using WhatsApp numbers 7352042357 and 9065924345, pretended to be the company's chairman and contacted him.
Claiming to be in an urgent meeting, the impersonator instructed the complainant to transfer a total of Rs 93,21,414 into different bank accounts. It was only thereafter the complainant realised he was duped.
“Following the money trail, the investigation team identified a Layer 1 Bank Account in the name of Nahim Khan, where Rs 35.60 lakh approx was deposited. The accused was tracked using technical surveillance and arrested in Faridabad by the Cyber Crime Police team,” SP Cyber Crime Rahul Gupta said, detailing the probe.
During the investigation, the police also managed to freeze Rs 71 lakh across bank accounts linked to the fraud, including Rs 33 lakh in Khan’s bank account, and Rs 31 lakh and Rs 7.57 lakh in other accounts. A mobile phone used in the crime was also seized.
Cyber Crime officials are now tracing further beneficiaries and accomplices involved in the network.
“The public is advised to be cautious of fraudulent messages who impersonate some known persons, using their name and photos and asking for urgent money and providing bank accounts which are in different person’s names. Before transferring money, it is always advised to cross-check with the person asking to transfer the money and the a/c holder's name and to immediately approach the local police station or Cyber Crime PS, Ribandar,” reads the advisory by Cyber Crime Cell.
