In a major crackdown on cyber fraud, Delhi Police arrested Raj Kumar, a cybercriminal from Sirsa, Haryana, for allegedly orchestrating a widespread ‘like and share’ scam through Telegram. The scam promised high returns for engaging with social media content but left victims financially devastated.
The accused, identified as Raj Kumar from Dwarka, was arrested on February 6, following a detailed investigation into a series of fraudulent financial transactions.
Victims were lured via Telegram and other online platforms, where they were offered a part-time job involving liking and sharing online content in exchange for a commission. After gaining their trust, the fraudsters convinced victims to invest in ‘premium’ packages, falsely promising huge returns on their investments.
One such victim, who filed a complaint on December 9, 2023, at the Dwarka Cyber Crime Police Station, revealed that they had invested Rs 3.3 lakh into the scheme, only to see the promised returns never materialize.
DCP (Dwarka) Ankit Singh explained that the fraudsters employed a tactic of switching off their phones and deleting Telegram groups once they had scammed enough victims. This left investors without any means to contact the fraudsters, resulting in 85 cyber fraud complaints from 23 states.
A forensic investigation traced the bank account used to receive the defrauded funds. The account, linked to an IndusInd Bank account operated by Raj Kumar, revealed suspicious transactions amounting to Rs 1.4 crore.
Once the financial link was established, police teams tracked Raj Kumar over 80 km, finally arresting him in Sirsa.
Officials have cautioned the public to be vigilant against easy-money schemes that ask for financial investments in return for unrealistic earnings. Cybercrime units across the country are actively monitoring similar fraudulent operations and urging people to report suspicious job offers promising high profits.
The investigation is ongoing, with police working to identify other potential accomplices involved in the scam.