In a major breakthrough, Rourkela police have arrested Umesh Kumar Ramani (49), a resident of Jharsuguda originally from Uttar Pradesh, and Samuel Cyril Lakra (50) from Jhirpani for their involvement in a fraudulent digital currency investment scheme that duped multiple victims of approximately Rs40 lakh.
The scam came to light after a complaint was lodged by Bijay Kumar Minz, a retired bank manager, who claimed to have lost Rs16.50 lakh after falling victim to the fraudulent scheme. The two accused allegedly convinced Minz and other victims to invest in digital currencies, promising high returns. However, the investments were never returned, and the victims were left financially devastated.
The police, acting on the complaint, arrested Ramani and Lakra on Monday. Further investigations revealed that the duo had been operating the scam for a while, targeting individuals from different regions, including retired professionals, and convincing them to invest large sums of money in fake digital currency schemes.
The police are continuing their investigation to uncover the full extent of the scam and identify other potential victims. The arrests of Ramani and Lakra have provided a significant lead in the case, and authorities are working to track down any accomplices involved in the fraudulent operation.
This scam highlights the growing prevalence of digital currency frauds and the need for vigilance when considering online investment schemes, especially those promising unusually high returns.