Chandigarh Cyber Crime Police have arrested six individuals, including a woman, in connection with a digital fraud that duped an elderly Chandigarh couple of Rs38 lakh.
The accused, identified as Veena Rani and Satnam Singh from Ferozepur, Sukhdeep Singh (alias Sukh) and Dharminder Singh (alias Laddi) from Fazilka, along with Mukesh Prince and Rocky, were traced following a detailed investigation by the Cyber Crime unit.
The victims, Krishna Chand and his wife, received calls on January 7 from individuals posing as Mumbai Police officials. The fraudsters claimed the couple’s Aadhaar was linked to a money-laundering case and conducted WhatsApp video calls showing fake arrest warrants, threatening them with immediate arrest.
Under duress, Krishna Chand transferred Rs38 lakh via RTGS. The accused monitored the couple for nearly 24 hours until the matter was reported to Sector 17 Cyber Crime Police Station.
Investigators revealed that the stolen money was converted into USDT cryptocurrency by Mukesh Prince, who kept a 10% commission and moved funds on instructions from Rocky. Technical surveillance led to the arrest of Veena Rani in Sector 32, who disclosed details of the operation, helping authorities apprehend the remaining accused.
Police recovered cash, electronic devices, multiple bank documents, ATM cards, and laptops from the suspects. Authorities noted that Rocky acted on instructions from Chinese nationals via Telegram, directing the withdrawals and fund transfers.
The case underscores the growing threat of sophisticated digital scams and the importance of public vigilance.
