Mumbai Police's North Cyber Cell Busts ₹2.85 Crore Fraud Ring, Arrests Three People

Mumbai: In a significant breakthrough, the North region  Cyber police station has arrested three individuals accused of facilitating large-scale cyber fraud using over 70 bank accounts. The arrested suspects, identified as Sheshnath Pandey (47), Satish Poonamiya (47), and Rahul Bachchan (37), allegedly provided these bank accounts to cyber fraudsters for transferring illicitly acquired funds. In return, they earned hefty commissions for each transaction.

About The Case

According to Cyber Cell DCP Datta Nalawade, the trio played a key role in a ₹2.85 crore fraud case involving a woman lured into investing in the stock market with promises of high returns. The investigation into this case led to their arrest, unraveling their extensive network of fraudulent accounts.

The investigation revealed that between February 2 and March 7, 2024, an unidentified person contacted the victim via WhatsApp, enticing her to invest in the stock market. Promising significant profits, the fraudsters convinced her to transfer ₹2.85 crore into multiple accounts under various names.

Cyber Cell officials tracked the fraudulent transactions to accounts spread across different regions. Through technical analysis and confidential informants, the police traced and arrested the suspects from Diu-Daman, Gujarat, and Mumbai.

Seized items include six mobile phones, ten SIM cards, a laptop, numerous bank passbooks, debit cards, and forged documents used to open 70 bank accounts. The arrested individuals are linked to over 130 complaints nationwide, and their arrest is expected to aid in solving these cases.

The Cyber Cell continues its investigation to identify additional accomplices and recover more fraudulent proceeds. Further charges against the suspects are likely as evidence is compiled.