A realtor was swindled out of Rs7.19 crore over a span of nine months in a fraudulent foreign remittance scheme. The victim unknowingly transferred funds to 80 different bank accounts before realizing he had been conned by cybercriminals.
In a related investigation, the Telangana Cyber Security Bureau apprehended Sunil Kumar Maasthi Rathnappa, 35, in Bengaluru. According to police reports, Rathnappa received Rs38.5 lakh from the victim within just four months. Authorities are actively working to identify and capture additional suspects involved in the scheme.
The scam unfolded when Giri, the victim’s real estate business partner, introduced him to his friend Rathod, who claimed to have a lucrative business deal that would generate substantial profits.
Rathod, another accused in the case, alleged that a foreign associate named Augustin had sent a Rs100 crore donation. However, he falsely claimed that the customs department had seized the funds at Hyderabad International Airport and that they could be released if certain fees were paid. He promised the victim a 30% commission on the total amount if he covered these fees.
To gain the victim’s trust, Rathod shared forged documents purportedly from foreign banks, the RBI, and other international agencies via WhatsApp. Believing him, the victim continued to pay various fees, including processing fees and advance taxes, to access the funds. Notably, some payments went into accounts belonging to Sunil Kumar.
Additionally, Sunil, who claimed to have political connections, provided a counterfeit letter from the Ministry of Textiles, asserting that Rathod had been appointed as Chairman of the National Jute Board. He assured the realtor that the funds would soon be released due to Rathod’s influence.
Eventually, the victim realized that despite his continued payments, no progress was made in releasing the funds. Disheartened, he approached the Telangana Cyber Security Bureau to report the fraud and seek justice.