Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: In a significant development, Goa’s Cyber Crime Police have detained a cybercriminal who defrauded an employee of Rs 93.21 lakh by posing as the chairman of a private limited business situated in Goa.
After an inquiry, the accused, Nahim Mukarram Khan, 19, of Faridabad, Haryana, was taken into custody. Three bank accounts totaling Rs 71 lakh that were connected to the crime have been frozen by authorities.
The situation was brought to light after the firm’s Deputy General Manager (Accounts) filed a complaint alleging that an unidentified person impersonated the chairman of the company using two WhatsApp numbers between December 3 and December 5 of last year.
Through WhatsApp, the accused persuaded the complainant to transfer a total of Rs 93.21 lakh into many bank accounts by claiming to be at an urgent meeting.
The cops discovered a primary bank account in Nahim Khan’s name that had received Rs 35.60 lakh after following the money trail. After being located in Faridabad, Haryana, via technical monitoring, Khan was taken into custody by a squad from the Cyber Crime Police Station.
Khan has been charged under Sections 66-C and 66-D of the Information Technology Act, as well as Sections 318(4), 319(2) read with 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Investigations are still underway, and he has been placed under custody.
Cybercrime authorities were able to freeze Rs 33 lakh in the accused’s bank account in order to retrieve the fraudulent monies. They also managed to freeze Rs 31 lakh and Rs 7.57 lakh in other accounts, for a total of Rs 71 lakh frozen funds.
According to investigations, the victim got WhatsApp messages from a number that showed the chairman’s name and photo.
Under the guise of urgent business matters, the accused, acting in the persona of the chairman, gave the employee instructions to transfer money to different bank accounts.
The public has received a warning from the Cyber Cell to be wary of bogus texts from people posing as well-known figures. Before sending money, officials advise consumers to examine the account and confirm the sender’s identity.
