Naharlagun police have apprehended 30-year-old Yakub Ali in Barpeta district, Assam, for allegedly masterminding a cryptocurrency investment scam that swindled numerous victims. The arrest occurred on October 29 after an extensive investigation into the fraudulent activities.
Ali is accused of operating through two platforms, Vio5globel.com and the OKX App, where he promised investors substantial returns through a networking scheme. Victims were shown inflated virtual profits in their accounts but found themselves unable to withdraw any funds.
After collecting a significant amount of investments, which were converted to USDT cryptocurrency via the OKX App, Ali allegedly shut down the Vio5globel.com platform and vanished. Police traced him to Chunbari Village in Barpeta through a combination of technical surveillance and traditional investigative methods.
A special police team led by Sub-Inspector Vivek Linggi, under the direction of SP ICR Naharlagun Mihin Gambo and Inspector K Dev, executed the arrest with assistance from Assam Police. This operation is linked to Naharlagun PS Case No. 81/24, filed under Section 420 of the IPC.
Following his arrest, the Judicial Magistrate First Class in Yupia has remanded Ali to five days of police custody, allowing investigators to delve deeper into the extent of the fraud scheme.