The Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested two accused namely Vijay and Vishal in a case related to cheating, extortion with foreign nationals & other offences including running of illegal call centre etc.
Searches were conducted at the premises of the accused including call centre in New Delhi which led to recovery of incriminating documents and cash of Rs. 14.50 Lakh(approx).
Four Crpto currency wallets having total amount of Rs 1,30,20,000 ( including Bitcoins and other crypto currencies) were found which were allegedly used to park the proceeds of crime.
A case was registered against Proprietor of a private call centre based at Shadi Khampur Village, New Delhi & others on the allegations that an illegal call centre was being run by the said Proprietor along with others at Shadi Khampur Village, New Delhi.
It was alleged that the accused were involved in the illegal acts of large scale cyber cheating & extortion with foreign nationals by impersonating themselves as police officers and thereby causing loss to the foreign nationals and gain to themselves.
It was further alleged that the accused impersonated themselves as officers of EUROPOL or the Federal Police to the innocent foreign nationals and told the victims that their identities had been stolen and the crimes related to money laundering, narcotic drugs etc. had been committed in their names using their stolen identities.
It was also alleged that the accused intimidated & threatened the victims of their probable arrest and launching of criminal case against them or a heavy penalty or fine against them along with freezing or seizure of their bank accounts & properties.
By way of threatening the victims, the accused allegedly compelled the victims to transfer money to the given bank accounts/crypto wallets/gift card codes or voucher codes, in order to clear themselves from the alleged coercive action.
The amounts collected from the victims through cheating by the accused are transferred in the form of Bitcoin (a crypto-currency) in the crypto-accounts of the accused maintained in the e-wallets of various Crypto currency exchanges.
Both the arrested accused were produced before the Competent Court and were remanded to police custody till 30.09.2022.
