Cyber criminals' gang busted after youths cheated by offer of online jobs
Anantapur: The police here busted a five-member gang involved in cheating unemployed youths in the name of online jobs. They were diverting funds from India through crypto currency and withdrawing the amounts in Dubai.
As many as 1,550 complaints had been registered by the victims in NCERB portal while the gang looted as high as Rs 35 crore from gullible youths across the country.
The police first busted a gang that was using 16 fake accounts to loot '35.59 crore by offering part time jobs online. About 14.72 crore of this has been frozen, police said, adding that they have launched a hunt for the gang’s kingpin.
A police team led by SP Amburajan investigated a complaint from victim Anil Kumar, an unemployed youth from Kallur Agraharam in Garladinne mandal in Anantapur district. Anil said he was trapped by cyber criminals by promising a part-time job in the name of Swetha Sharma. The offer was made via a message to his phone on September 21.
Anil had completed ITI and was in search of a job. The message to his Telegram Messenger enthused him and he joined the NIRVANA digital group after he was promised a commission-based payment for giving ratings to YouTube videos.
The gang asked him to deposit '10,000 to get videos on his phone to enable him to give the ratings and earn money. Anil informed the gang that he did not have enough money.
The gang then told him that the company would pay the deposit money. They sent him fake documents over the deposit. Anil was convinced and he kept doing the rating for YouTube channels.
He eventually received '800 in the name of commission. The gang again sent a message to him, asking him to send Rs 10,0000 to receive more commissions in future. He did so.
Anil again received 2,625 in the name of commission for the second time.
The gang again offered a huge commission but said he must deposit Rs 50,500 and Rs 1.50 lakh towards “Exclusive Data” access, and he transferred the amount in three phases.
The gang did not leave him at that. It asked him to send Rs 4.99 lakh to get the Data released, as it was “put on hold” for some reason.
By now, Anil realised the folly and approached the cybercrime police. A case was registered at the Garladinne police station.
SP KKN Anburajan alerted the cybercrime team, which led to the busting of the gang.
The police arrested Md Sayyad of Naidupeta, Venkatachalam of Tirupathi district, A. Sandeep of JAhirabad in Sangareddy district in TS, Ajay Reddy of Singarayakonda of Prakasam and Sandhya Rani of Anantapur district on Friday.
Cybercrime inspectors Ashrar Bhasha and Jakir Hussain tracked the transactions.
The kingpin of the racket operated from north India. The arrested gang members said they were being given 1 per cent of the commission on every transaction while the remaining amount was being drawn in Dubai.
The police froze 16 fake accounts from several parts of the country. SP Anburajan advised the youths to beware of fraud messages in the name of offering jobs to them.
