In a major breakthrough, the State Cyber Cell has arrested two individuals, Sunny Sahani (31) and Tikamsinh Chauhan (39), in connection with the Rs55 lakh digital arrest scam. The duo, linked to Chinese gangs operating out of Cambodia, allegedly played key roles in facilitating extortion under the guise of a ‘digital arrest.’
According to SP Sharma, the scammers contacted the victim via WhatsApp, posing as employees of FEDEX. They falsely claimed that the customs department had intercepted a parcel containing sensitive items such as passports, credit cards, laptops, and 700 grams of Mephedrone. The scammers then connected the victim with another accomplice, who identified himself as Pradeep Savant, an official from the Mumbai Cyber Cell.
The victim was threatened with false criminal charges and extorted a total of Rs55 lakh, which was deposited into bank accounts provided by Sahani and Chauhan. The Cyber Cell has since seized several items from the accused, including six mobile phones, one laptop, three SIM cards, 11 cheque books, five bank passbooks, and six ATM cards. Additionally, three bank accounts have been frozen as part of the ongoing investigation.
In another operation, the CID Crime’s Cyber Cell arrested Manoj Dhakad (28) from Madhya Pradesh for allegedly running fake payment websites. Dhakad is accused of creating and promoting these fraudulent websites on various social media platforms, further highlighting the rising cyber fraud activities in the region.
Authorities are continuing their efforts to recover the victim’s stolen money and dismantle the operations of these cybercriminals.