cyber fraud
Kanpur: The city police’s cyber crime team on Thursday arrested Arif, the third accused in an alleged Rs 5,600-crore cyber fraud targeting 2,000 people across 18 states and abroad. Police said transactions totalling Rs 49 crore were conducted over 18 months through three current accounts opened in the names of bogus GST firms: Arif Enterprises, SS Enterprises and Alamir Enterprises. An SBI branch on Birhana Road also sanctioned a Rs 1.45-crore loan using fake documents. Four complaints involving the accounts were registered on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, while one of 22 GST cases was linked to his firm. Arif, a resident of Gammu Khan Hata, who studied up to Class 4, was hiding in Nagpada, Mumbai. He returned to Kanpur 10 days ago and began working as a loader with his father, Shabbir, at Chakarpur Mandi, police said. Arif was employed as a clerk for Rs 8,000 at gang member Ehtisham Hussain’s scrap warehouse in Koyla Nagar. Police said it created 77 bogus slaughterhouse and scrap-trading firms to route funds, including to accounts belonging to winners of online games and cricket betting. Investigators found 86 NCRP complaints indicating Shahzeb’s alleged involvement and identified 45 bogus firms in Kanpur, Unnao and nearby districts. Shahzeb fled to Dubai after a case was registered on Aug 18, but was later arrested in Hyderabad following a lookout notice.
His nephew, Faizan, introduced him to cyber fraud gang kingpin Shahzeb Waris and helped open the three accounts using fake GST registrations. Associates Ikhlaq and Aamir were served notices and released. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Kanpur | Silver Rate in Kanpur | Bank Holidays in Kanpur | Public Holidays in Kanpur | Kanpur AQI | Weather in Kanpur | Petrol Price in Kanpur | Diesel Price in Kanpur | CNG Price in Kanpur | LPG Price in Kanpur Stay updated with the latest Kanpur news.
Police commissioner Raghubir Lal said proceeds from cyber fraud, hawala funds, GST input and the fraudulent loan had passed through Arif’s accounts. During questioning, Arif said he had worked in Dubai for six years before returning to Kanpur a year ago. He told police that Shahzeb controlled the accounts and possessed the mobile number linked to them.
Arif, who was absconding for two months, was arrested on his return from Mumbai. The gang lured targets with promises of high investment returns using digital arrest and other methods. Download the TOI App.
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