Hyderabad Police Arrest Man in WhatsApp Investment Scam Tied to 29 Cases
Police say his bank account routed about ₹3.7 crore to a multi-state cyber fraud network.
Overview
- The cyber crimes wing detained 33-year-old Mohammed Ashfaq in Hyderabad on January 6 after a city resident reported losing ₹49.9 lakh to a fake trading portal promoted on WhatsApp.
- Investigators say Ashfaq let fraudsters use his personal bank account for a commission and traveled to New Delhi where it was operated in his presence.
- About ₹3.7 crore moved through the account, with funds diverted via internet banking using OTPs obtained from him.
- The account is linked to 29 cases across India, including 12 in Telangana, four in Karnataka, three in Maharashtra, two each in Gujarat and Odisha, and single cases in Assam, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
- Police registered offences under Sections 66C and 66D of the Information Technology Act along with relevant Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita provisions, and further investigation is underway to identify accomplices and trace funds.