In a significant breakthrough, police have arrested two individuals, Avinash Sutar (28) from Tahsildar Galli, Belagavi, and Anoop Karekar (42) from Ramdev Galli, for allegedly misusing the bank accounts of vulnerable individuals in an online fraud operation. The arrests followed an investigation into a cybercrime case, revealing a disturbing scheme where the duo exploited innocent people’s bank accounts for fraudulent activities.
According to the police, the accused convinced poor individuals to open bank accounts with the promise of small amounts of money. Once these individuals complied, Sutar and Karekar gathered their bank account details under the guise of facilitating online business transactions. These details were then handed over to cybercriminals, who used the accounts to conduct their scams.
The fraudsters employed digital blackmail tactics, including video calls and threats of “digital arrests” for money laundering charges. Their targets, fearing for their safety, were coerced into transferring significant sums of money to the bank accounts of the unsuspecting individuals. One such victim, Radhakrishna Nayak from Puttur, transferred Rs 40 lac after receiving a threatening video call. However, growing suspicious, Nayak filed a complaint at the CEN police station, prompting further investigation.
Through detailed inquiries, the police traced the money transfer to a bank account in Belagavi, leading them to the arrested duo. Investigations revealed that Sutar and Karekar had been collaborating with cybercriminals in North India through Telegram channels, offering them bank accounts in exchange for a commission.
The investigation also uncovered that several individuals had sold their bank accounts to cybercriminals, and the operation had ties to Jamtara in Jharkhand, a known epicenter for online scams. The police are continuing their efforts to uncover the full extent of this cybercrime network.
