In a significant breakthrough, the cyber police of the north division arrested Akshay Kumar Kumaragopalan, 26, from Bhiwandi, Thane, for his involvement in a massive online job scam that defrauded a well-known Marathi television actor of Rs 61.83 lakh.
The accused allegedly lured the victim through WhatsApp, posing as an employee of the fictitious “Epsilon Company.” The actor, based in Kandivli, was coaxed into joining a Telegram group where he was assigned prepaid tasks such as “liking videos on Instagram” on a fraudulent website called UNKSUE.TOP. The fake platform displayed fabricated earnings through a fake dashboard, creating an illusion of lucrative rewards.
When the victim tried to withdraw the supposed profits, he was asked to pay additional fees citing credit score problems and tax deductions, ultimately losing Rs 61.83 lakh.
Cyber police seized a mobile phone from Akshay Kumar containing details of four bank accounts and 10 email IDs linked to the scam. Investigators also uncovered his role in laundering fraud proceeds through cryptocurrency wallets and foreign exchanges. Despite attempts to hide identities, meticulous tracking of bank accounts led to the arrest.
The case underscores the rising menace of online job scams and crypto laundering, prompting authorities to remain vigilant against such cyber fraud activities.
