Four Arrested in Tamil Nadu for Rs 2.6 Crore Cyber Fraud Posing as CBI Officer
New Delhi, India – The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested four individuals from Pallipattu, Tamil Nadu, in connection with a cyber fraud case involving Rs 2.6 crore. The accused, Tamilarasan Kuppan (29), Prakash (26), Aravindan I (23), and Ajith (28), were apprehended on September 13.
Details of the Fraud
The ED revealed that the accused were involved in creating shell companies and opening bank accounts to launder the proceeds of the cyber scam. A Special Court in Bengaluru has granted the ED four days of custody for the accused.
The agency has also frozen Rs 2.8 crore in the bank account of a shell company, Cyberforest Technology Private Limited. The investigation was initiated based on multiple FIRs registered by various state police, including one from Jaipur.
How the Scam Worked
In one instance, a victim received a call from someone claiming to be from the Mumbai Custom Office, alleging that illegal goods were being sent abroad under the victim’s name. The victim was asked to make a ‘fund legalisation’ payment, amounting to Rs 2.16 crore, in three instalments. Later, the victim was contacted by someone posing as a CBI officer and another person claiming to be a DCP from Delhi Police, pressuring the victim to transfer the money.
Further Investigation
The ED’s swift action led to the freezing of Rs 2.8 crore in a Bandhan Bank account on September 12. The investigation revealed that Tamilarasan was in contact with Chinese cyber fraudsters to siphon off the frozen amount. The accused were also found to be part of a WhatsApp group coordinating these fraudulent activities.
Earlier, the ED had arrested four other individuals in Bengaluru in August. So far, 17 searches have been conducted, leading to the seizure of incriminating materials and the freezing of Rs 2.8 crore. The investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, has identified over Rs 28 crore generated from the cyber scam.
Doubts Revealed
Enforcement Directorate (ED) -: The Enforcement Directorate, or ED, is a government agency in India that investigates financial crimes like money laundering and fraud.
CBI Officer -: CBI stands for Central Bureau of Investigation. It is India’s top police agency that investigates serious crimes like corruption and fraud. The accused pretended to be an officer from this agency.
Cyber Fraud -: Cyber fraud is when someone uses the internet to trick people and steal their money or personal information.
Pallipattu -: Pallipattu is a small town in the state of Tamil Nadu, India.
Shell Company -: A shell company is a business that exists only on paper and has no real operations. It is often used to hide money or avoid taxes.
Chinese Cyber Fraudsters -: These are criminals from China who use the internet to commit fraud and steal money from people.
