New Delhi, April 20 (IANS) In a significant breakthrough, the Delhi Police on Monday busted a cyber fraud racket where unsuspecting individuals were duped through fake online trading schemes. Two accused persons have been arrested in Shahdara, and two mobile phones used in committing the offence have been recovered.

According to officials of the Cyber Police Station in Shahdara, the case came to light on March 15, when complainant Puneet Grover, a resident of Delhi, filed a complaint on the NCRB portal.

He reported receiving a WhatsApp message from an unknown number offering lucrative trading opportunities. The fraudsters shared a deceptive investment link and initially convinced him to invest Rs 10,000, promising high returns. To gain his trust, they returned Rs 18,000.

Encouraged by the initial gain, the complainant was further lured into investing Rs 2,00,000 with the promise of earning four times the amount. However, after transferring the money through multiple transactions, the accused blocked his funds and ceased all communication.

Following the registration of the case, a dedicated police team was formed. Using technical surveillance, the team successfully traced and apprehended the accused.

The arrested individuals have been identified as Abhishek (23), a resident of Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh, who was the registered owner of the SIM card linked to the fraudulent bank account and played a direct role in the conspiracy. The second accused, Sumit (22), also from Bijnor, was the holder of the bank account into which Rs 50,000 — part of the defrauded amount — was transferred.

Police have recovered two mobile phones used in executing the fraud. The team involved in solving the case included Inspector Vinit Kumar, Head Constables Dharmendra, Bikas, and Sandeep.

Delhi Police has advised citizens to remain cautious of fake online trading platforms and unsolicited investment offers on social media and messaging apps. They have urged the public to verify before investing and report any suspicious activity promptly.

Cyber fraud is a criminal act using the Internet or digital devices to illegally acquire sensitive information for financial gain, with, according to recent reports, increasing use of mule accounts for money laundering. Common tactics include phishing, investment scams, and digital arrest scams

–IANS

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