Latest news with #CyberCrimeCell
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Two class 12 dropouts held for cyber frauds using fake bank sites, apps
1 2 Lucknow: Lucknow Commissionerate Police, in collaboration with the Cyber Crime Cell, unearthed an inter-state racket involving two class 11 dropouts using fake websites and apps of bank portals to defraud credit card holders of lakhs of rupees. The accused, Rahul Lakheda (28) and Vikas Kumar (28), both residents of Delhi's Badarpur area, were arrested from a rented house in Capital's Om Nagar on Aug 6. Additional DCP, South zone, Vasanth Kumar, said that the duo commissioned fake websites and Android Package Kit (APKs) that closely resembled those of legitimate banks and credit card issuers. "While pretending to be customer care executives from well-known banks, the accused would randomly cold-call individuals. During these calls, they would offer lucrative services such as instant credit card limit enhancement, free or bonus insurance activation, urgent account verification, or card closure assistance," said Kumar. Once the victim was convinced, they were sent a link via SMS or WhatsApp, typically in the form of APK files. These apps mimicked the interface of legitimate banking portals. Victims were instructed to download the app and enter personal data related to credit cards. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like She Was Everyone's Dream Girl In 90's, This Is Her Now The Latest Article Undo Once the victim entered the data, the fraudsters gained access to their card. They would immediately initiate online purchases, mostly of mobile phones or electronics. To complete the transactions, they would trick the victim into sharing the One Time Password (OTP) sent by the bank—usually under the pretext of "final verification." The purchased phones were delivered to locations accessible by the gang. Once received, the devices were sold in Delhi's grey markets at slightly discounted rates—but with bills, making them harder to trace. This gave the racket a clean way to convert stolen digital funds into liquid cash. The gang repeated this con across various cities. The bust began with a complaint lodged by Jitendra Kumar, a resident of Lucknow's Sarojininagar area, on June 24. He reported that an unknown caller tricked him into sharing his PAN card number and OTP under the pretext of closing his credit card. A total of Rs 1,60,432 was stolen from his card via purchases made on Flipkart. An FIR was registered and the cyber cell used technical surveillance, call detail analysis and digital footprints to trace the accused to Delhi. Cops seized 25 mobile phones of various brands, 24 active SIM cards from different providers, one laptop, two routers, a printer, and Rs 41,250 in cash. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and s ilver prices in your area.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Time of India
Gang of cybercrooks posing as plant sellers busted; 4 held
Lucknow: The Cyber Crime Cell and Gosaiganj police on Sunday arrested four individuals for defrauding a businessman of Rs 29.25 lakh on the pretext of supplying high-yield banana saplings through fake Facebook pages. The arrests followed an intensive 10-day interstate operation led by a joint police team, which tracked the accused to their hideouts in Maharashtra and Karnataka. The accused were running a well-organised racket via social media, posing as directors and sales agents of fictitious bio-plant and nursery companies to scam unsuspecting farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs. The arrested individuals are Baburao Sambhaji Mali (34) of Sangli, Maharashtra, who played a key role in logistics and documentation forgery; Kallayya Pattadamath (32), a resident of Bijapur (Vijayapur), Karnataka, who specialised in online page creation and posing as a plant expert; Mohammad Rafik Ganisab Tamboli (42), also of Bijapur, who oversaw mule account setups and mobile coordination; and Basappa Bhimppa Bandivaddar (38), also from the same place, who managed money laundering and cash withdrawals. The racket came to light when Avadhesh Kumar, a nursery business operator from Kasimpur Biruha, Gosaiganj, responded to a Facebook advertisement posted by a page named Fac Bioplants. The page showcased superior hybrid banana varieties, such as G-9 tissue culture plants, offered at competitive rates with guaranteed home delivery. Impressed by professional-looking content, customer testimonials, and fake ISO and MSME certifications, Kumar contacted the number provided. Over the course of several conversations, he was persuaded to deposit multiple instalments into various bank accounts for the purchase, packaging, and transport of the plants. Over several weeks, Kumar transferred a total of Rs 29.25 lakh — but the promised saplings never arrived. Realising he had been duped, he approached the Gosaiganj police and the Cyber Crime Cell, prompting a formal investigation. Additional DCP (South Zone) Vasanth Kumar said the probe revealed that the scam was orchestrated by a gang of repeat offenders who had met while serving time in jail for previous cyber frauds. Police believe the group may have defrauded dozens of victims across several states, including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Telangana. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
India.com
29-07-2025
- India.com
‘Sonalika Tractor' Joins ‘Dog Babu' As Another Fake Residence Certificate Surfaces In Bihar
In a shocking series of fraudulent cases related to residence certificates, Bihar has once again found itself at the centre of controversy. After a bizarre incident in Masaurhi, Patna, where a certificate was issued in the name of 'Dog Babu', a new case has surfaced from Motihari involving fabricated names and even a celebrity image on Tuesday. Officials in East Champaran's Kotwa block were stunned after receiving an online application for a residential certificate on July 17, which featured the photo of Bhojpuri actress Monalisa, while listing the applicant's name as 'Sonalika Tractor', father's name as 'Swaraj Tractor', and mother's name as 'Car Devi.' The police station area mentioned was Chhoudadano. Upon verification, the authorities confirmed the application to be entirely fake. An FIR was registered at Kotwa police station, and the matter has now been handed over to the Cyber Crime Cell for deeper investigation. 'A meeting was held at the district headquarters in Motihari, and I have directed stringent action against the culprits,' said Saurav Jorwal, District Magistrate of East Champaran. The fake application copy has gone viral on social media, triggering widespread discussions and criticism over lax verification procedures. Earlier on Monday, a similarly outrageous case came to light in Masaurhi (Patna), where a residence certificate was issued in the name of a dog. The application had been submitted using an Aadhaar card of a woman from Delhi, raising serious questions about document verification. Following a probe led by Patna District Magistrate Tyagarajan SM, strict action was taken against the errant officers. One revenue officer was suspended, and an IT assistant was terminated from the service with immediate effect. An FIR was lodged against all individuals involved, including the applicant. The DM termed it a deliberate act to malign the government's image and assured that thorough investigations would continue. 'Such actions were not accidental but intentional. We will ensure strict legal action against anyone found guilty,' said DM Tyagarajan SM, during his visit to the Block-cum-Zone Office in Masaurhi. Both cases underscore glaring lapses in e-governance platforms and certificate issuance protocols. Officials admitted that residence certificates were forwarded without field verification, exposing the system to exploitation. The state government has since recommended disciplinary action against responsible officials and emphasised the need to tighten digital verification measures.
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Time of India
Retired cop duped of Rs4L by cyber fraudster
Lucknow: A retired sub-inspector of UP Police fell victim to a cyber fraud and lost Rs 4.16 lakh through phone call from a fraudster posing as govt treasury official. The incident was reported to the Lucknow Cyber Crime Cell. According to the complaint filed by Gyanendra Kumar Shukla, resident of EWS-337, Janeshwar Enclave, Gomtinagar Extension, he was duped on Jun 25, less than a month after his retirement on May 31. Shukla said he received a phone call from an unknown person claiming to be from govt treasury who said his pension process was pending and would be finalised by the Jawahar Bhawan office. The caller instructed Shukla to download a mobile application and said his bank account details were incomplete and needed updating. Trusting the caller's instructions, Shukla followed the steps. The next day, Rs 4.16 lakh was withdrawn from his bank account without his authorisation. tnn
Indian Express
04-07-2025
- Indian Express
Vadodara school evacuated after ‘bomb threat' email, third such incident in 10 days
A school in Vadodara was evacuated on Friday morning following a bomb threat — the third such incident in the city in ten days. An email, claiming that an 'RDX device' had been planted on the premises of Cygnus World School in Harni, prompted an intensive search operation by the city police. Police said the email, received by the school at around 7 am, was signed by a sender identifying themselves as 'Madras Tiger'. The message echoed previous hoax threats sent to other institutions, referencing political figures in Tamil Nadu and warning of large-scale explosions, according to senior police officers. After the evacuation, students were sent home with their parents. Teams from the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS), the Special Operations Group (SOG), and the Cyber Crime Cell were deployed to the campus for a thorough search. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone IV) Panna Momaya said, 'The school received an email early this morning, warning that a bomb had been placed on the premises. The Principal immediately informed the police. A joint team from the local police, BDDS, SOG, and Cyber Crime Cell reached the school and conducted a search after safely evacuating all students. A probe is underway to trace the origin of the email.' The incident comes days after the Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Cell arrested a Chennai-based woman, Rene Joshilda, for allegedly issuing hoax bomb threats to over 20 locations, including the Gujarat High Court, reportedly to avenge an unrequited romantic relationship. The city police have already sought assistance from Central agencies, including the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), to trace the source of bomb threat emails and investigate possible links between the threats. Officials said that nine bomb threats earlier received in Vadodara since June 2024 have turned out to be hoaxes.
