Latest news with #CyberPolice
Hans India
08-08-2025
- Hans India
Delhi Police busts work-from-home scam, 24-year-old held
New Delhi: The Cyber Police of North-West District have arrested a 24-year-old man for allegedly running a fake work-from-home job scam and duping people under the pretext of online employment offers. The accused, identified as Parth Bhatia, a resident of Moti Nagar, West Delhi, was apprehended following a complaint from a woman named Anshula Sharma, a resident of Model Town. Sharma alleged that she was cheated of Rs 15,000 and her Apple MacBook after being lured with a fraudulent part-time job offer. According to the police, the accused contacted the complainant through WhatsApp and promised her a remote job opportunity. After gaining her trust, he asked her to pay Rs 15,000 as a 'security deposit' and also convinced her to hand over her MacBook, claiming it required an upgrade for the job. The device was picked up via a Rapido service arranged by the accused. An FIR (No. 38/25) under Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) was registered at the Cyber Police Station of North-West District. A special team led by Inspector Dinesh Dahiya, along with SI Rahul, HC Deepak Rana, HC Pawan, and HC Mohit, under the supervision of ACP Rajeev Kumar and DCP Bhisham Singh, was formed to crack the case. The team analysed WhatsApp IP logs, Rapido booking details, and other digital evidence, which helped them trace the accused to his residence. Upon arrest, the mobile phone used in the crime was recovered. During interrogation, Parth Bhatia admitted to orchestrating the scam to fuel his gambling addiction. Police have also found that the WhatsApp number used in the scam is linked to multiple cyber fraud complaints. Further investigation is underway to determine his involvement in other such cases.
NDTV
28-07-2025
- Business
- NDTV
Mumbai Cyber Police Bust Share Trading Scam, Woman Duped Of Over Rs 27 Lakh
Mumbai: The Mumbai Police has dismantled a cyber fraud racket and arrested a 28-year-old man for allegedly duping a 58-year-old woman out of Rs 27.44 lakh through a fake and sophisticated share trading platform. The scam, which operated via WhatsApp and a counterfeit trading app, promised massive returns and is suspected to be linked to over 100 similar fraud cases across the country. The scam began when the Dahisar-based woman was contacted via WhatsApp by a user identifying herself as "Shivani". Claiming to provide share market tips, she added the victim to a group named TBVIP168, where fraudulent advice and trading guidance were regularly circulated. The victim was then asked to visit and install a fake trading app through a suspicious link. The app, built to mimic a genuine trading platform, initially displayed fake profits in lakhs, intentionally designed to gain the victim's trust. Lured by these seemingly positive returns, the victim was repeatedly instructed to deposit money into various bank accounts under the pretense of buying shares through IPOs and block deals. On June 3, she transferred Rs 4 lakh, of which Rs 2.3 lakh was immediately routed to second-level accounts. Over the course of the scam, she ended up paying a total of Rs 27,44,236. Following the complaint filed a few weeks ago, the Cyber Police registered an FIR under various sections of the BNS and the IT Act. Based on a combination of digital forensics and on-ground intelligence, the police traced the money trail to Vinayak Pramodkumar Baranwal, a resident of Kasheli in Thane, who was arrested shortly thereafter. Police said he had knowingly allowed his bank account to be used for routing the proceeds of cybercrime and had also personally profited from the transactions. One mobile phone was seized from his possession. Further investigation revealed that the same bank account used by Baranwal had previously been flagged in 106 cyber fraud complaints from various parts of the country, pointing to a larger, organised network of online financial crime. "This case shows how digital fraudsters are now using sophisticated apps and social engineering to trap victims. The accused created a fake sense of profitability to exploit trust," said a senior police officer from the cyber unit. Authorities are urging citizens to remain cautious while engaging in online financial activities. They have advised the public not to fall for unsolicited investment offers via social media, avoid sharing bank account access with unknown individuals, and to report any suspicious activity without delay.
Indian Express
17-07-2025
- Indian Express
‘We take every call seriously… even if it turns out to be a hoax'
Last year, when a private school in Outer Delhi's Paschim Vihar received a bomb threat in an email on December 20, around 20 personnel — including officers from the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) and the Bomb Detection Team (BDT), Delhi Fire Service, and even Cyber Police — were sent to the site. The threat turned out to be a hoax. It added to the list of similar emails sent to more than 200 schools in the Capital last year. Each time, a batch of 20-22 personnel was sent to the site of the incident. 'Six to seven members of the BDS, six members with the BDT, six to seven members of the local police stations, the SHO of the Cyber Police station, and two members of the dog squad are sent to the site in such cases,' an officer explained. Multiple instruments have to be used during such an operation — the Bomb Detection Team has to carry explosive vapour detectors, nonlinear junction detectors, and circuit detectors. All the surveillance devices are taken to the site in an ROV (remote operation vehicle). M-ION, a highly portable sniffer, and DSMD (Deep Search Metal Detectors) are used to scan through the whole vicinity. 'We take every bomb threat call seriously. Hence, personnel have to be mobilised even if it turns out to be a hoax. But it does put a lot of things on standby, and multiple teams have to be involved,' Special Commissioner of Police (Crime) Devesh Chandra Srivastava told The Indian Express. 'We are also procuring advanced bomb detection and bomb disposal equipment and doing capacity building for our staff,' he added. A senior police officer, who probed multiple hoax calls over the last year, highlighted the commitment of resources for such operations. 'We take all the children and the staff to the muster area outside the school and then search for the bombs. Since we didn't find any explosives in any of the cases, all our police personnel just remained on standby in the area till all the checks were made. For hours, we have to commit so many resources in a very small area of the district,' he said. Local police stations also need to mobilise personnel as they manage the crowds. 'The SHO of the Cyber Police Station or an investigating officer is needed to scan through the emails, even when it's clear that the emails were sent using VPNs, and will be untraceable. Many times, advanced bomb detection tools and safety equipment are not available with every BDS squad. So personnel are also needed to get it from other districts if needed,' another senior police official said. If an explosive is found, the National Security Guard (NSG) gets involved. Even as NSG personnel were not called in most of the calls made last year, police have to engage with the agency to expect a swift response in case any explosives are detected, a senior officer said.
Time of India
22-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
83-year-old retiree loses Rs 1.19 crore in fake IPO scam
An 83-year-old retired man from Dadar, Mumbai, has fallen prey to a sophisticated online stock investment scam, losing Rs 1.19 crore after being lured by fraudsters posing as financial advisors. The incident began on March 10, when the senior citizen clicked on a stock investment advertisement on social media. He was subsequently added to a WhatsApp group named G-5 ICICI Stock Exchange Group, which appeared to be managed by two individuals identified as Vinita Patodia and Ashwin Parekh. The group, with over 90 members, frequently posted messages boasting of high returns from stock trades. On April 2, Patodia privately messaged the victim, asking if he was interested in investing. After he agreed, she sent him a registration link. Soon after, a person named Pranay Warma contacted him and, referencing Patodia, persuaded him to invest Rs 7.5 lakh as an initial amount. Over the following weeks—between May 2 and May 23—the victim made multiple transfers to various bank accounts, believing he was investing in IPOs. The scammers sent fake documents and screenshots showing inflated virtual returns to gain his confidence. When he requested a payout, the fraudsters demanded a 10% commission on the supposed profits. His suspicion grew after his messages and calls began going unanswered. He then consulted a friend, who confirmed it was a scam. Live Events The victim filed a complaint via the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (1930), and the case has since been transferred to the Cyber Police (Central Division). An FIR has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act. Investigations are ongoing. Also Read: $2.4 trillion worth of gold! India's household hoard is 6x Pakistan's economy
Economic Times
22-06-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
83-year-old retiree loses Rs 1.19 crore in fake IPO scam
An 83-year-old retired man from Dadar, Mumbai, has fallen prey to a sophisticated online stock investment scam, losing Rs 1.19 crore after being lured by fraudsters posing as financial advisors. ADVERTISEMENT The incident began on March 10, when the senior citizen clicked on a stock investment advertisement on social media. He was subsequently added to a WhatsApp group named G-5 ICICI Stock Exchange Group, which appeared to be managed by two individuals identified as Vinita Patodia and Ashwin Parekh. The group, with over 90 members, frequently posted messages boasting of high returns from stock trades. On April 2, Patodia privately messaged the victim, asking if he was interested in investing. After he agreed, she sent him a registration link. Soon after, a person named Pranay Warma contacted him and, referencing Patodia, persuaded him to invest Rs 7.5 lakh as an initial amount. Over the following weeks—between May 2 and May 23—the victim made multiple transfers to various bank accounts, believing he was investing in IPOs. The scammers sent fake documents and screenshots showing inflated virtual returns to gain his he requested a payout, the fraudsters demanded a 10% commission on the supposed profits. His suspicion grew after his messages and calls began going unanswered. He then consulted a friend, who confirmed it was a scam. The victim filed a complaint via the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (1930), and the case has since been transferred to the Cyber Police (Central Division). An FIR has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act. Investigations are ongoing. ADVERTISEMENT Also Read: $2.4 trillion worth of gold! India's household hoard is 6x Pakistan's economy (Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views, and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of Economic Times) ADVERTISEMENT (You can now subscribe to our ETMarkets WhatsApp channel)
