In a major crackdown on international online fraud, the Surat Range Cyber Crime Police arrested eight individuals linked to a Chinese online scam network that defrauded a local youth of Rs14.84 lakh through fake online tasks.
The victim, a private company employee from Pipodra village in Olpad, received a Telegram message from a fake representative of a company posing as DLF Group, offering high-paying online tasks. After registering through a fraudulent link, he was promised daily profits of Rs1,500–Rs3,000. Initially, small returns were deposited to build trust.
As the scam progressed, the youth was pressured into depositing increasing amounts into different bank accounts with the assurance of higher returns. Eventually, the victim lost Rs14,84,934. When the fraudsters refused to return the investment, a complaint was lodged.
Police Investigation & Arrests:
Led by PI P. A. Suthar, the cyber cell began a technical probe and arrested:
Ashok Arjanbhai Parmar (Ahmedabad)
Dilipchand Sumerlal Raw (Indore)
Supplied rented bank accounts used in the fraud
Altaf Husen Ansar Ahmad Shaikh and Qureshi Mohammad Faizal Mohammad Hasan (both from Ahmedabad)
Acted as agents to collect SIM cards and open fraudulent bank accounts
Atif Istiyakbhai Ajmeri and Salman Habibkhan Pathan (Ahmedabad)
Involved in converting scam money into cryptocurrency
Safwan Abdulrauf Shaikh and Altamas Makbul Shaikh (Ahmedabad)
Provided credit and debit cards from multiple banks for the scam
Seized Items:
14 mobile phones
47 credit cards
6 debit cards
A diary with transaction details
According to DySP A. M. Parmar, this gang has 29 fraud cases registered across 12 Indian states. Further investigations are underway to track links to the Chinese operators coordinating these scams from overseas.
