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The accused have been charged with various offenses related to fraud and are currently in police custody pending further investigation.
The trio’s modus operandi involved setting up a front as an IT Solutions firm and listing their contact details on Google, luring individuals seeking technical assistance.
A startling case of fraud has come to light in Maharashtra, as three individuals, each with only a 10th-grade education, were apprehended by the police for orchestrating an elaborate online scam. Atul Indrapati Singh (32) from Virar, Palghar, Neeraj Shamkumar Choubey (26) from Nalasopara, and Vikas Meghlal Sao (23) from Dahisar, formed a company named Samarth IT Solutions to deceive unsuspecting victims.
The trio’s modus operandi involved setting up a front as an IT Solutions firm and listing their contact details on Google, luring individuals seeking technical assistance. Their first victim, Atul Uikey from Nagpur, fell prey when he contacted them regarding an issue with the PhonePe app.
Acting on the fraudsters’ instructions during a video call, Uikey unwittingly allowed them to gain access to his phone settings, leading to the unauthorised withdrawal of Rs 5 lakh from his bank account over two days. The amount got deducted from his account in three installments, Rs 1.49 lakh, Rs 1.99 lakh and Rs 1.49 lakh respectively.
Nagpur Cyber Police, upon receiving Uikey’s complaint, swiftly investigated the matter, leading to the arrest of the fraudsters. The police expressed astonishment at the sophistication of their operations despite the accused’s limited educational background.
The accused have been charged with various offenses related to fraud and are currently in police custody pending further investigation. Authorities caution the public to remain vigilant against such scams and to verify the authenticity of companies offering online services.