Team Goemkarponn
PORVORIM: Porvorim Police have solved a major cyber fraud case involving cheating of Rs 28.5 lakh after arresting a 25-year-old accused from Patna, Bihar, following a detailed technical investigation.
According to police, the complaint was lodged on May 4 by Swati Naik, 45, a resident of Alto-Porvorim, Bardez. The complainant reported that between April 29 and April 30, she received phone calls from an unknown person who falsely impersonated himself as an authorised representative of Emporium Automobile Private Limited.
Police said the accused claimed that the complainant was linked to an HDFC Bank account and repeatedly contacted her, pressuring her to urgently process RTGS transactions. The accused allegedly sent forged cheques and fake company letterheads through WhatsApp to make the documents appear genuine. Believing the requests to be authentic, the complainant processed RTGS transfers into three different bank accounts, resulting in a wrongful loss of Rs 28.5 lakh to the account holder.
Following the complaint, Porvorim Police registered Crime No. 35/2026 under Sections 318(4), 319(2), 336(3), 338 and 340(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The investigation was initially taken up by PSI Mandar Parab.
During the probe, Goa Police utilised advanced cyber investigation techniques and technical surveillance, which led investigators to Patna in Bihar. A special team headed by PSI Sitaram Malik, along with police personnel Bhikaji Parab, Siddesh Naik and Hemant Gaonkar, was deputed to trace the accused.
Police said the team successfully apprehended the main accused, identified as Abhay Kumar, son of Rampur Yadav, aged 25 years, from Patna, Bihar. The accused was subsequently brought to Goa after completing all legal formalities. Further investigation in the case is in progress.
