The Commissionerate Police in Odisha on Friday arrested four individuals for running a fraudulent online gaming scam that targeted unsuspecting victims with promises of high returns on their investments. The accused were identified as Vaibhav Khanna (29) and Kamaljeet Singh (39) from Delhi, Tejas Kumar Mahendra Bhai Patel (26) from Gujarat, and Gugulavath Mahipal (32) from Telangana.
The police investigation revealed that the gang had created a fake gaming application impersonating a legitimate Chinese platform, WINBUZZ365. The fraudsters lured victims into joining WhatsApp and Telegram groups by promoting the app’s high investment returns. They initially charged a Rs100 joining fee, after which they convinced victims to invest larger amounts.
Victims were then asked to make payments through UPI QR codes. However, after transferring the funds, the victims found themselves locked out of the platform, with no way to retrieve their money.
The police raided a Sundarpada area location where the accused were found operating the scam using various electronic devices. Investigators seized digital gadgets from the suspects, who had been running the fraud for over six months.
According to Bhubaneswar DCP Pinak Mishra, the accused earned Rs30,000 to Rs40,000 monthly by executing these fraudulent operations. A case has been registered under multiple sections of the BNS and IT Act. The police are continuing their investigation into the broader network behind the scam.
