Pune: Pimpri Chinchwad Police Nab 8 in Online Job Fraud, Crores Swindled
Reported By Varad Bhatkhande
Pimpri Chinchwad, 6th June 2024: The Cyber Cell of the Pimpri Chinchwad Police Commissionerate (PCPC) has arrested a gang of 8 youths for swindling people out of crores of rupees by enticing them with the promise of easy money through online part-time jobs. The modus operandi also involved opening multiple bank accounts in the Pune district and providing them to cybercriminals. The incident leading to their detention occurred at Mukai Chowk in Ravet in February this year.
In February, the victim received a WhatsApp message about a part-time job opportunity. Clicking on the link automatically added him to a Telegram group. An unknown person in the group claimed that completing online tasks would yield a profit of Rs 1500. Screenshots of purported profits further lured the victim. The victim invested Rs 33,000 for a promised profit of Rs 5,000 but received neither profit nor the invested amount. Another similar cyber complaint was also lodged by the Karnataka Bank’s Pimpri Branch Manager, citing suspicious transactions in more than 32 newly opened accounts in the past 2 months.
A resident of Mukai Chowk, Kiwale reported the matter to Dehu Road Police Station. The police arrested Altaf Mehboob Shaikh (24, Juni Sangvi), Manoj Shivaji Gaikwad (23, Dapodi), Aniket Bhaurao Gaikwad (22, Navi Sangvi), Hafeez Ali Ahmed Shaikh (Dapodi), Pawan Vishwas Patil (22, Pimpri), Chaitanya Santosh Abnave (21, Pimple Gurav), Saurabh Ramesh Vishwakarma (23, Pimple Gurav), and Krishna Bhagwan Khedkar (27, Shirur). They have been charged under IPC Sections 406 (criminal breach of trust), 419 (cheating by personation), 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), and relevant sections of the Information Technology Act of 2000.
As per Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Sandeep Doifoide, police initially suspected a connection between the Karnataka Bank case and the Ravet citizen case. Further investigation revealed that the accounts opened in Karnataka Bank belonged to youths from Pune District itself. Police set a trap and arrested accused Shaikh, who, during interrogation, divulged the names of his accomplices involved in the crime. All 8 accused were detained. It emerged that they were opening fraudulent accounts and passing them on to others. Preliminary investigations suggest that over 50 bank accounts were opened, resulting in 16 cases registered across Maharashtra, with an estimated duped amount exceeding Rs 20 Crores. Additionally, they deceived people with fraudulent online tasks, failing to return the money. Pimpri Chinchwad Police are pursuing others involved in the scheme.
The operation was conducted under the directives of Pimpri Chinchwad Commissioner of Police Vinoy Kumar Choubey, Additional Commissioner of Police Vasant Pardeshi, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Sandip Doifode, and Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime) Dr Vishal Hire.
View this post on Instagram
Senior Police Inspector (Cyber Cell) Vaibhav Shingare led the operation, assisted by Assistant Police Inspector Praveen Swami. The team comprised Police Sub Inspectors Sagar Poman, Nitin Gaikwad, and Ravindra Panhale, as well as Police Constables and other supporting personnel, including Bicchewar, Atul Lokhande, Shrikant Kabule, Saurabh Ghate, Ashok Jaware, Krishna Gawali, Ramesh Karke, Sachin Ghadge, Abhijeet Ukirde, Swapnil Khanse, Suraj Shinde, Anand Muthe, Aniket Tomgire, Baliram Navale, Priya Vasave, Bansode, and others.
