Reveal of high-tech cyber fraud.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has made a big disclosure regarding the rapidly growing cyber fraud cases in the country. The recently filed charge sheet has been exposed that hundreds of people of the country were taken to the ‘Golden Triangle’ (areas bordering Thailand, Laos and Myanmar), where they were being held hostage and committed cyber crimes. According to the charge sheet, about Rs 159.70 crore was cheated through this cyber racket. The accused, using social media, fake investment companies, cryptocurrency and international networks, were vicious people in their trap.
Social media became a weapon
The fraudsters used to run attractive advertisements on social platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp and Telegram, in which big profits were lured on investment. The victims were added to the WhatsApp groups looking professional, where the team of fake investors was already active. They were then asked to download fake mobile apps such as IC Organ Max, Techstars.Shop and GFSL Securities.
Used to show profits in the beginning, then cheated crores
The IPOS and stocks shown in these apps looked so real that people used to be deceived. Initially, trust was maintained by showing fake profits on investment, and as soon as people invest more money, they were looted in the name of tax, brokerage or charge. After a while scammers used to finish the contact.
Cyber fraud was being commanded by Golden Triangle
ED investigation revealed that there was a hub of cyber thugs in large buildings in areas on the border of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar. From here, the youth brought from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh under the leadership of Chinese citizens were chatted in English. Their mobiles were taken away and “work phones” were given from which the people of India were implicated. On refusal, there were assault and threats.
UP to Singapore, then Laos
In one example, Manish Tomar of Uttar Pradesh told the ED that he was sent to 50 thousand rupees by Instagram Influencer Bobby Kataria, 50 thousand rupees in Singapore, then sent to Laos, where he was forced to seize his passport and to do cyber fraud.
Fraud of crores in Faridabad, Noida and Bhatinda
Faridabad: A woman was hit by Rs 7.59 crore through WhatsApp groups and fake apps.
Noida: 9.09 crore rupees were taken from a businessman through a group called “GFSL Securities”.
Bhatinda: A doctor was cheated from Facebook’s investment link and cheated Rs 5.93 crore.
Money laundering through shell companies
ED found that 24 fake companies were formed in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and other states for the scam, which were used for money laundering. These companies were registered at the cooking space address and their directors did not even know that companies were running in their names.
Clues were erasing from SIM cards and crypto
The fraudsters used to get fake SIM cards through Telegram, which were used to create fake bank accounts and WhatsApp groups. The cheated money was converted into cryptocurrency and sent abroad so that no clues were found.
Raid and arrest
The ED has raided 19 places in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and arrested 8 accused. All of them are accused of money laundering through fake companies. So far, an amount of Rs 2.81 crore has been freezed.
Chargesheet presented in court
The ED filed a charge sheet in the special PMLA court of Bengaluru on 10 October 2024 in the case, in which 8 accused and 24 shell companies have been named. The court has taken cognizance of this on 29 October and the investigation is still going on.
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