TUESDAY, JULY 09, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: The Cybercrime Cell of Goa police arrested a UP native residing in Siolim for fraudulently making a person from Goa transfer money to the tune of Rs 45 lakh in April this year.
The accused, identified as Vivek Gautam, made the victim transfer the money by posing as a TRAI official and convincing the person that illegal money transactions had been carried out using his documents. A local youth, identified as Nikil Mane, 24, a bouncer from Siolim, has also been booked for allowing Gautam to use his account for the fraudulent transaction and helping him withdraw a portion of the amount deposited through the fraud. Police informed that Gautam was involved in cryptocurrency trading.
The Cybercrime police registered a case under Sections 419 and 420 read with 34 IPC and 66 D of the IT Act upon the complaint. Gautam was arrested and later released on bail.
During the interrogation of the accused, it was revealed that he used to trade in USDT (Crypto Currency) and after selling USDT, he was receiving money in different bank accounts of various individuals, including foreigners. He used crypto trading for currency exchange for foreigners, taking a cut for himself. Furthermore, more than 20 bank accounts were identified in which he was receiving money, and upon verifying these accounts, it was found that they were involved in different cybercrime (financial fraud) cases across the country. Out of these 20+ bank accounts, nine are already frozen in different cases across the country, and the rest have been frozen by Cybercrime PS, Ribandar.
The Cybercrime police have advised the general public to be cautious of such fraudulent calls claiming to be from the Police or ED and demanding money. Before transferring money, it is always advised to cross-check the bank account holder's name and to immediately approach the local police station or Cybercrime PS.
