Four arrested for cheating through e-mails
source :- Staff Reporter the hindu.com
NEW DELHI: Four persons, including three Nigerians, have been arrested by the Crime Branch of the Delhi Police for allegedly duping people by sending them e-mails and text messages saying that they had won five crore pounds in a Cricket World Cup draw.
The fraud came to light following a complaint by Arvind Kumar of Trilokpuri saying that he had been cheated of Rs.4.7 lakh by a gang who had sent him e-mails and text messages announcing that he had won an online ESPN 2011 Cricket World Cup draw.
Taking up investigation, the police arrested Sunday Mokobi (38), John (34), Davies Inemhonlan (31) and Sameer Anand (26). Besides Sameer, all three are residents of Nigeria. Sameer lives in Seelampur in Delhi.
The police said the gang mostly targeted educated and well-off people in Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Uttar Pradesh and Kerala.
The police have seized four bank accounts being operated by the accused in separate banks with a total transaction of more than 50 lakh since 2010.
The gang would approach people online saying that they had won five crore pounds in a lottery and another mail was then sent advising them to keep the matter under wraps till the money was received. Those who showed interest were then asked to deposit “fee” for release of funds citing the cost incurred on transfer fee, government clearance and customs duty etc.
The victim was fleeced further on one pretext or another. The gang would inform the victim a few days later that an account had been opened in the Reserve Bank of India and the money transferred to it. The victim was also provided a fake account number and pin number to win his confidence.
John, an Estate Management diploma holder, came to India in 2005 and started a garment business. He later took to online fraud to make easy money. Davies, a graphic designer, came to India on a tourist visa and joined John in running the racket. Sunday, a Mass Communication student, came to India in 2007 on three-month medical visa and joined the gang.
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