2024.9.8 Chandigarh police bust immigration fraud ring promising work visas. Arresting six people, including two women, the cyber cell of Chandigarh Police has dismantled a large-scale immigration fraud ring that duped numerous victims out of lakhs.
Chandigarh police bust immigration fraud ring promising work visas
The scam came to light when Ganeshmal, a resident of Rajasthan, filed a complaint against “Global Consultant”, a visa consultancy at SCO Number 292, Sector 32-D, Chandigarh
Arresting six people, including two women, the cyber cell of Chandigarh Police has dismantled a large-scale immigration fraud ring that duped numerous victims out of lakhs.
The scam came to light when Ganeshmal, a resident of Rajasthan, filed a complaint against “Global Consultant”, a visa consultancy at SCO Number 292, Sector 32D.
Ganeshmal said he saw an advertisement of the consultancy on Facebook, claiming to provide work visas to Azerbaijan.
Enticed by the offer, he visited the office with his son-in-law and met the consultancy’s staff, comprising two men and three women.
The consultancy promised to process work visas in exchange for ₹1.35 lakh per person, requesting half the amount upfront and the remainder upon receipt of the visa.
Complying, Ganeshmal deposited the full amount. However, when he and his family arrived at the Delhi airport on June 15, their tickets were found to be fake and their calls to the consultancy went unanswered.
As per police, through this modus operandi, the consultancy duped over 40-45 persons, totalling the fraud amount to approximately over ₹65 lakh.
The main accused was identified as Sanjeev Kumar,43, a resident of Sikar, Rajasthan. Investigators said Kumar advised his staff to use fake names and documents to deceive clients. He would never meet the clients directly to remain discreet.
After the fraud was discovered, he closed the office and reopened a new consultancy, “Dream Land Immigration” at Sector 34. Lakhvir Singh, 27, a resident of Rupnagar, worked as a bodyguard for Kumar. He would tackle complainants who would approach the office after realising the fraud.
Vicky, 28, residing in Mohali, served as a bodyguard alongside Lakhvir.
Navpreet, 34, a resident of Manimajra, worked as a receptionist at the fraudulent office. Monika, 24, residing in Kishangarh, and Mehak Kapoor, 26, from Nayagaon were also employed as receptionists.
Police also recovered 15 mobile phones, 15 SIM cards, three stamps and five reception registers from the accused.
According to police, the accused used various deceptive tactics to lure victims, posting attractive advertisements on social media platforms, promising work visas to various foreign countries.
The operation involved creating a facade of legitimacy through social media advertisements and a seemingly professional office set-up. The fraudulent nature of the visas was only revealed when victims arrived at their intended destinations with fake tickets.
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昌迪加尔警方破获承诺发放工作签证的移民诈骗团伙
这一骗局是在拉贾斯坦邦居民 甘尼什马尔(Ganeshmal) 向位于昌迪加尔 32-D 区 SCO 292 号的签证咨询公司“Global Consultant”提出投诉时曝光的。
该咨询公司承诺以每人 13.5 万印度卢比的价格办理工作签证，要求先预付一半金额，收到签证后再支付剩余金额。
甘尼什马尔遵从了要求，存入了全部金额。然而，当他和家人于 6 月 15 日抵达德里机场时，却发现他们的机票是假的，他们给咨询公司的电话也无人接听。
警方表示，通过这种作案手法，该咨询公司欺骗了 40 至 45 人，诈骗总额约为650多万印度卢比。
主要嫌疑人是 43 岁的桑吉夫·库马尔 (Sanjeev Kumar)，拉贾斯坦邦西卡尔居民。调查人员称，库马尔建议其员工使用假名和文件来欺骗客户。为了保持低调，他从不直接与客户见面。
欺诈行为被发现后，他关闭了办公室，并在 34 区重新开设了一家新的咨询公司“梦想之地移民”。
据警方介绍，嫌疑人采用各种欺骗手段引诱受害者，在社交媒体平台上发布诱人的广告，承诺向受害者提供前往各个国家的工作签证。
此次行动包括通过社交媒体广告和看似专业的办公室设置来营造合法的假象。只有当受害者持假机票抵达目的地时，签证的欺诈性质才会被揭露。
2024.8.11 A 25-year-old man in Jaipur fell victim to a “digital arrest” scam, where cyber fraudsters posed as officials from central agencies like CBI and ED, threatening to implicate him in a terror funding case.
25-yr-old man duped of ₹4.55L in ‘digital arrest’ scam in Jaipur
Jaipur: A 25-year-old man in Jaipur fell victim to a “digital arrest” scam, where cyber fraudsters posed as officials from central agencies like CBI and ED, threatening to implicate him in a terror funding case.
The youth was coerced into paying Rs 4.55 lakh over the course of eight days, only informing the authorities on Saturday.
DCP (West) Amit Kumar said that the victim’s family filed a complaint on Saturday.PollAppointing Udhayanidhi Stalin deputy CM will benefit DMK, says Tamil Nadu Housing and urban development ministerDisagreeAgreeThe scam began on August 1, when the victim received a call from someone posing as a Reserve Bank of India (RBI) customer service officer, who informed him of a supposed issue with his credit card.
When the victim denied any such problem, the call was transferred to someone claiming to be with Hyderabad Police.
A woman posing as a police officer accused the young man of being involved in a terror funding case, stating that his bank account had been used for this purpose.
Despite the victim’s denials, the woman insisted that money from his account had been sent for terrorist activities. Under the guise of an investigation, she collected his Aadhaar and bank account details, further intimidating him by claiming that the case was being handled by the apex court and that over 200 people were under suspicion.
She warned him that a preliminary investigation had begun against him and that he would soon be arrested. The fraudsters, seeing the young man under pressure, continued their deception by calling him from different numbers, each time posing as officials from various investigative agencies.
They made him purchase a mobile phone, download the Skype app, and then took him on a video call. The scammers kept him under video surveillance until Friday afternoon, even making him stay in a hotel for a day.
Police are currently investigating the case, working to track down the individuals responsible for the elaborate scam and recover the stolen money..
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斋浦尔一名 25 岁男子遭遇“数字逮捕”诈骗，被骗 45.5 万卢比
斋浦尔：斋浦尔一名 25 岁男子成为“数字逮捕”骗局的受害者,网络诈骗者冒充中央调查局和印度执法局等中央机构的官员，威胁要将他牵连到恐怖主义融资案中。
这名年轻人被迫在八天内支付 45.5 万卢比，直到周六才通知当局。
2024.8.11 A Noida woman was duped out of nearly Rs 10 lakh after being subjected to a 48-hour “digital arrest” by cybercriminals, police said.
Noida woman loses Rs 10 lakh in 48-hour ‘digital arrest’ scam
A Noida woman lost nearly Rs 10 lakh to cybercriminals who held her as a digital hostage for two days.
In Short
Scammers posed as DHL and Mumbai Crime Branch
Victim coerced into revealing personal info
Money transferred under threat of legal trouble
A Noida woman was duped out of nearly Rs 10 lakh after being subjected to a 48-hour “digital arrest” by cybercriminals, police said.
The victim, identified as 36-year-old Ranjana, a resident of Sector 62, filed a complaint at the Noida Cyber Crime Police Station.
According to the complaint, Ranjana received a call from an unknown number on August 7. The caller, posing as a representative of DHL courier services, claimed that a parcel in her name, with her Aadhaar card attached, had been found to contain drugs and other prohibited items. The caller then transferred the call to fake Mumbai Crime Branch officials.
Once connected to the supposed crime branch, the scammers initiated a video call via Skype, where they began threatening Ranjana. They coerced her into revealing sensitive personal information.
They kept Ranjana under constant surveillance, preventing her from contacting anyone else or carrying out any other activities.
On the morning of August 8, the scammers, under the guise of “saving” Ranjana from legal trouble, instructed her to transfer all the money in her bank account to an account registered under the name ZWIGATO (R R ENTERPRISES).
Overwhelmed by pressure and fear, Ranjana complied, transferring Rs 5 lakh initially, followed by another Rs 4.7 lakh, totalling Rs 9.7 lakh.
Even after the money was transferred, the scammers continued the digital confinement until August 9, when they stopped communicating. She then approached the Noida Cyber Crime Police Station in Sector 36.
Noida police have registered a case of cheating and extortion, and formed a team to investigate the matter.
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警方称，一名诺伊达女子遭到网络犯罪分子长达 48 小时的“数字逮捕” ，被骗走近 100 万卢比。
受害者名叫 Ranjana，36 岁，住在第 62 区，她向诺伊达网络犯罪警察局报案。
Ranjana 于 8 月 7 日接到一个陌生号码打来的电话。来电者冒充 DHL 快递服务代表，声称一个以她名义寄出的包裹被发现装有毒品和其他违禁物品，该包裹附有她的 Aadhaar 卡。来电者随后将电话转接给了假冒的孟买犯罪调查局官员。
2024.8.11 A resident of Indirapuram allegedly lost over Rs 3 crore in a cyber fraud. Nabanita Mishra filed a complaint with the police, in which she claimed that she was lured into a fake investment opportunity via online advertisements.
Couple invests in ‘stocks’, loses ₹3cr
Ghaziabad: A resident of Indirapuram allegedly lost over Rs 3 crore in a cyber fraud. Nabanita Mishra filed a complaint with the police, in which she claimed that she was lured into a fake investment opportunity via online advertisements.
In an FIR filed with the Cyber Crime Police Station, Ghaziabad, Mishra claimed she and her husband Mrinal Mishra made 22 transactions to various bank accounts between July and Aug, which amounted to a total of Rs 3.1 crore, in the name of stock trading.
The complainant said that she came across an advertisement on Facebook. When she clicked on it, she was added to a WhatsApp group. The group claimed to be run by a popular investment platform that provides trading services, and its administrator was identified as Rajat Chopra. He encouraged group members to participate in a competition called GTC, promising good returns.
Mishra said that she had to initially pay a monthly subscription of Rs 2,000 for investment advice, and then she was convinced to make transactions for shares and IPO investments. The transfer details were shared by a number belonging to the company. .
Mishra also said that the company had given what appeared to be authentic SEBI registration details. Further, various members on the WhatsApp group would share details of transactions and profits.
The complainant said for one of the IPO transactions, the company loaned her Rs 80 lakh, but when she tried to access her account, it said she had to repay the debt. She mortgaged her late father’s fixed deposits to do so.
Later, although she could see details of her investment and profits in the company app, she was not allowed to access the money and was told to pay tax. She got suspicions when she tried to invest in IPOs through other platforms but could not do so. She said the company informed her that it had international status and traded in high volume upper circuit stocks, hence she could not find similar opportunities elsewhere.
Finally, upon probing for cyber frauds, she came across the details of the company. She tried to reach all the numbers on the WhatsApp group, including those of other investors, but they were unreachable. The numbers were registered in Rajasthan. A case was registered on Friday under Section 66 (D) of the IT Act and Section 318(4) (cheating) of BNS.
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夫妇投资“股票”，损失 3000 万印度卢比
加济阿巴德：据称，因迪拉普拉姆的一名居民在一次网络诈骗中损失了 3000 多万卢比。纳巴尼塔·米什拉向警方报案，声称她被网上广告诱骗进入虚假投资机会。在向加济阿巴德网络犯罪警察局提交的一份 FIR 中，米什拉声称，她和丈夫米什拉在 7 月至 8 月期间以股票交易的名义向多个银行账户进行了 22 笔交易，总额达 3100 万卢比。
2024.7.31 Rae Bareli’s fake birth certificate scam: 1,700 certs issued to minority individuals in a village having one such family. The scam was exposed in Palhepur village when a central agency arrived to verify a birth certificate issued in the name of Yusuf, son of Zakir, with a birth date of 1978. The birth certificate was issued earlier this year in March.
Rae Bareli’s fake birth certificate scam: 1,700 certs issued to minority individuals in a village having one such family
The scam was exposed in Palhepur village when a central agency arrived to verify a birth certificate issued in the name of Yusuf, son of Zakir, with a birth date of 1978. The birth certificate was issued earlier this year in March.
LUCKNOW: More skeletons tumbled out in the fake birth certificate scam as the physical verification drive intensified in villages of the Salon block of Rae Bareli district. The verification drive revealed that at least 1,700 fake birth certificates bearing the names of individuals from the minority community were issued from the Hindu-dominated Palhepur village in the Salon block though only one minority family with eight members lives in the village, , said persons privy to the verification drive.
Palhepur is among 12 villages in the Salon block where village development officer Vijay Singh Yadav, the prime accused in the fake birth certificate scam, was posted over the past two years.
“It is surprising how so many birth certificates with minority names were issued on bogus addresses in Palhepur when only one minority family originally lives there,” said local social activist Jitendra Singh, who has been instrumental in raising the issue before district authorities. Besides, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) red-flagged certain certificates made with addresses in some of these 12 villages after recovering certificates from some individuals earlier this year.
He further said that the scam was exposed in Palhepur village when a central agency arrived to verify a birth certificate issued in the name of Yusuf, son of Zakir, with a birth date of 1978. The birth certificate was issued earlier this year in March.
He added that Palhepur village was under the jurisdiction of Vijay Singh Yadav until June this year. The fake birth certificates were issued to bogus residents of Palhepur, Nooruddinpur, Lahurepur, Gopalpur Anantpur, Sirsira, Gadi Islamnagar, Kalu Jalalpur, Sanda Saidan, Aunananish, Madhavpur Ninaniya, Prithvipur, and Dubahana.
These facts surfaced during an ongoing verification drive in 12 villages of the Salon development block over the past 10 days. This verification was initiated after the arrest of Vijay Singh Yadav, and his associates, Zeeshan and his father Rizwan, who operated the Jan Sewa Kendra in Salon town. They were arrested on July 19 following an FIR lodged by assistant development officer (ADO) Jitendra Singh on July 17 at the Salon police station.
The FIR was lodged under sections 318 (4) for cheating, 319 (2) for cheating by impersonation, 336 (3) for forging electronic record, 337 for forging a document, 338 for forgery of valuable security and 340 (2) for using forged document or electronic record as genuine, under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The certificates were issued from the computer system of the Jan Sewa Kendra using the government’s Civil Registration System (CRS) portal, with the ID and password of Vijay Singh Yadav, without filling in the proper address and other details of the beneficiaries. Most of these certificates were generated between 8 and 9pm when the Jan Sewa Kendra was closed to outsiders.
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随着雷巴雷利县萨隆区村庄的核查行动不断加强，伪造出生证明骗局的更多黑幕被曝光。知情人士表示，核查行动发现，萨隆区以印度教徒为主的帕尔赫普尔村至少签发了 1,700 份印有少数民族姓名的伪造出生证明，而该村只有一个拥有 8 名成员的少数民族家庭。
2024.7.30 Up to 450 Indians Rescued From Scam Centers in Cambodia This Year, 14 Of Them This July
Up to 450 Indians Rescued From Scam Centers in Cambodia This Year, 14 Of Them This July
Action was taken by local authorities on a human trafficking case involving Indian victims in Cambodia with the recent rescue of 14 people, bringing the total number of human trafficking and cybercrime victims to 450 this year.
An email from the Indian embassy in Cambodia stated that the exact number of Indian citizens trapped in scam compounds in the country is unknown. “The individuals often end up in these centers because of fraudulent agents or misleading advertisements on social media.”
In the latest rescue, the embassy provided specific leads to the Cambodian police. The 14 individuals are currently being cared for by an NGO working in coordination with Cambodia’s Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation (MoSVY).
The embassy was engaged in ongoing communication with Cambodian officials, urgently requesting the expedition of necessary formalities to ensure the safe and timely repatriation of the rescued victims to India, it stated.
The embassy said victims commonly reach out to the embassy and local authorities on their own once they realize they are trapped and the place they were in was a scam center.
To address challenges, the Indian mission has collaborated with local authorities to rescue Indian victims. It has facilitated the rescue and release of approximately 650 Indian nationals since 2022, with 470 of them rescued in 2024 alone, the embassy said.
It added that their mission has also issued multiple advisories, which called on Indian nationals who plan to come to Cambodia for employment to only do so via authorized agents.
“The advisories have also asked Indian nationals to thoroughly check the
background of prospective employers in Cambodia. We have also advised Indian nationals not to indulge in practices contrary to the purpose for which the visa was granted by the host government, such as seeking employment on a tourist visa,” the embassy added.
It continues to closely monitor the situation and is committed to protecting the welfare of Indian citizens in Cambodia. Indian nationals have been advised to exercise extreme caution in job offers in Cambodia and immediately report suspicious activities.
The embassy also said that the mission has raised the issues to the “highest level”, including with the Ministry of Interior.
The mission has highlighted several proposals to tackle the menace, such as setting up of a joint task force between both countries, and cooperation of specialized agencies of both sides in containing cybercrime, including online scamming and human trafficking.
From the Indian side, the mission has proposed the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) for the cooperation and a working-level periodic meeting between the embassy and a designated officer of the General Commissariat of the National Police of Cambodia.
The embassy issued a statement in May about the rescue of Indian nationals trapped in scam operations in Cambodia.
At the time, local authorities confirmed that around 60 Indian nationals were evacuated from the Jin Bei 4 casino compound in Sihanoukville. However, the police denied any connection to a crackdown on online scams.
Meanwhile, Chiv Phally, Deputy Commissioner-General of the National Police, confirmed that they rescued 14 victims and arrested three suspects on July 13 and 14, 2024. Officials continue to search for other foreign suspects in the case, he told CamboJA News on July 25.
It was a human trafficking case from India into a scam center, essentially a secret scam to obtain a job elsewhere.
On the “importation of foreigners” with passports into human trafficking in Cambodia, Phalla said some cases people should be educated about foreign employment, particularly foreigners who come to look for jobs in Cambodia.
“For example, in India, if we think that India needs to prevent the people [from working in scam centers] and be aware of the risk of overseas jobs, then the people need to be educated. This is a good thing,” he said.
He confirmed the rescue of 14 Indians and arrest of three male suspects in Phnom Penh, which was a collaboration between the Commissioner-General of the National Police and the Central Security Department.
The three suspects, identified as Dubey Abhay Nath, 51, Yadav Rohingya, 22, and Abhiranjan Kumar, 29 were sent to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, and charged for trafficking and illegal detention. They have been placed in pre-trial detention in prison.
Cambodian authorities continue to search for a network of 11 Indian suspects who have fled to India. Cambodian authorities are requesting cooperation with Indian authorities to investigate human trafficking networks in India and take legal action.
Touch Channy, spokesperson for MoSVY, said when trafficked victims were sent from the Ministry of Interior, his ministry would provide assistance and contact the relevant embassy to facilitate the return of the victims to their home country.
“We are seeking health services and a temporary shelter for the 14 victims through partner organizations. We then contact the embassy, so they make preparations to send them back to their country,” he added.
Am Sam Ath, operations director of rights group Licadho, expressed concern about human trafficking and cross-border trafficking.
He added that foreign media outlets have reported scams online, which was a matter of concern for Cambodia involving the enforcement of the law.
Sam Ath said Cambodia was in a bad position, especially with regards to drawing soft investment due to the safety and security of tourists amid issues of human trafficking.
“Relevant authorities must strengthen effective law enforcement, eliminate all forms of corruption related to human trafficking and cooperate with neighbors in the region to prevent human trafficking flow into Cambodia.”
It was necessary to cooperate with countries in the region to determine the identity of human traffickers and not have Cambodia as a human trafficking location.
“Relevant Cambodian authorities must be given more technical training to keep up with the modernization of human trafficking due to online scams,” he added.
Cambodia was classified a Tier 3 nation in June 2024, the lowest possible classification, according to the US State Department’s Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report.
It indicated that the government had not taken “serious and sustained” efforts to eradicate human trafficking and hold offenders responsible.
In September 2023, a UN report noted that Cambodia has shifted from a place of origin for trafficking victims to a destination where foreign victims are trafficked.
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今年柬埔寨有多达 450 名印度人从诈骗中心获救，其中 14 人于今年 7 月获救
柬埔寨当地政府对一起涉及印度受害者的人口贩卖案件采取行动，近期解救出 14 名受害者，使今年人口贩卖和网络犯罪受害者总数增至 450 人。
印度驻柬埔寨大使馆在一封电子邮件中表示，该国被骗的印度公民的具体人数尚不清楚。“这些人往往因为欺诈性代理人或社交媒体上的误导性广告而被困在这些中心。”
2024.7.30 Dramatic Rise in Credit, Debit Card & Net Banking Frauds: Losses Over Rs 2,000 Cr, Govt Informs Parliament. The number of frauds reported skyrocketed from 2,677 in FY 2019-20 to an alarming 29,082 in FY 2023-24. This represents an increase of 26,405 cases, or 986%, over the five years
Dramatic Rise in Credit, Debit Card & Net Banking Frauds: Losses Over Rs 2,000 Cr, Govt Informs Parliament
The number of frauds reported skyrocketed from 2,677 in FY 2019-20 to an alarming 29,082 in FY 2023-24. This represents an increase of 26,405 cases, or 986%, over the five years
In a recent statement to Parliament, Pankaj Chaudhary, minister of state for finance, disclosed concerning statistics on financial frauds reported by banks over the past five fiscal years. The data from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) reveals a troubling surge in fraud cases involving credit cards, ATM or debit cards, and internet banking.
The number of frauds reported skyrocketed from 2,677 in FY 2019-20 to an alarming 29,082 in FY 2023-24. This represents an increase of 26,405 cases, or 986%, over the five years. The total amount involved in these frauds escalated dramatically from Rs 129 crore in FY 2019-20 to Rs1,457 crore in FY 2023-24, a rise of Rs 1,328 crore, or 1,068 per cent.
In terms of recovery, the amount reclaimed grew from Rs 12 crore to Rs 139 crore, marking an increase of Rs 127 crore or 1,058 per cent. Despite the significant rise in both fraud cases and the amounts involved, the recovery rate has remained relatively stable. The proportion of the amount recovered compared to the amount involved was 9.3 per cent in FY 2019-20 and slightly increased to 9.5 per cent in FY 2023-24.
Over the five-year period, the total financial losses due to fraud amounted to Rs 2,137 crore, while the total amount recovered was Rs 174 crore. This stark difference underscores the challenges faced in combating financial fraud and the need for enhanced security measures.
Here’s a detailed breakdown of the data:
FY 2019-20
Frauds Reported: 2,677
Amount Involved: Rs 129 crore
Amount Recovered: Rs 12 crore
FY 2020-21
Frauds Reported: 2,545
Amount Involved: Rs 119 crore
Amount Recovered: Rs 7 crore
FY 2021-22
Frauds Reported: 3,596
Amount Involved: Rs 155 crore
Amount Recovered: Rs 15 crore
FY 2022-23
Frauds Reported: 6,699
Amount Involved: Rs 277 crore
Amount Recovered: Rs 11 crore
FY 2023-24
Frauds Reported: 29,082
Amount Involved: Rs 1,457 crore
Amount Recovered: Rs 139 crore
However, as per the minister, frauds within the Aadhaar Enabled Payment System (AePS) have been particularly notable, often linked to compromises of Aadhaar numbers and biometric data.
In response, UIDAI now provides a facility to lock Aadhaar numbers to prevent misuse. Banks have been advised to adopt advanced fingerprint authentication methods, offer multiple options for customers to manage AePS transactions, and enforce a cap of Rs 50,000 per month on AePS cash withdrawals to mitigate fraud risks.
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印度财政部国务部长 Pankaj Chaudhary 在最近向议会发表的声明中披露了过去五个财年银行报告的金融欺诈统计数据。印度储备银行 (RBI) 的数据显示，涉及信用卡、ATM 或借记卡以及网上银行的欺诈案件数量令人担忧地激增。
报告的欺诈案件数量从 2019-20 财年的 2,677起 猛增至 2023-24 财年的惊人 29,082起。这意味着五年内案件数量增加了 26,405起，增幅达 986%。这些欺诈案件涉及的总金额从 2019-20 财年的 12.9 亿卢比急剧上升至 2023-24 财年的 1,457 亿卢比，增加了 1,328 亿卢比，增幅达 1,068%。
在追回金额方面，追回金额从 1.2 亿卢比增至 13.9 亿卢比，增加了 12.7 亿卢比，增幅为 1058%。尽管欺诈案件数量和涉案金额均大幅增加，但追回率仍保持相对稳定。2019-20 财年，追回金额占涉案金额的比例为 9.3%，2023-24 财年略有上升，为 9.5%。
在这五年间，因欺诈造成的财务损失总额高达 213.7 亿卢比，而追回的金额却高达 17.4 亿卢比。这一巨大差异凸显了打击金融欺诈所面临的挑战以及加强安全措施的必要性。
以下是数据的详细分类
2024.7.30 Techie loses Rs 28 lakh to dating scam; police reveals how he was trapped. An engineering graduate in Visakhapatnam fell victim to an online dating scam, losing over Rs 28 lakh. The victim was manipulated by fraudsters who created fake profiles to establish romantic relationships. One gang member has been identified, with investigations ongoing. Authorities urge caution, advising against sharing personal details or transferring money to online acquaintances.
Techie loses Rs 28 lakh to dating scam; police reveals how he was trapped
An engineering graduate in Visakhapatnam fell victim to an online dating scam, losing over Rs 28 lakh. The victim was manipulated by fraudsters who created fake profiles to establish romantic relationships. One gang member has been identified, with investigations ongoing. Authorities urge caution, advising against sharing personal details or transferring money to online acquaintances.
An engineering graduate in Visakhapatnam fell victim to a sophisticated online dating scam, losing over Rs 28 lakh. The victim, an unmarried mechanical engineer, was targeted by cyber crooks who created fake profiles on dating websites and apps to develop romantic relationships with unsuspecting individuals.
How the techie was trapped
Investigations revealed that the engineer was ensnared by a well-orchestrated scam involving a fake online profile.
The fraudsters, operating from Telangana, skillfully manipulated the victim’s emotions, convincing him to transfer large sums of money under various pretexts. The police have identified one member of the gang, Kommagoni Lokesh, and are on the lookout for the other two accomplices.
“This dating scam is a new type of fraud where cyber crooks create fake profiles, featuring attractive women, on dating websites or apps to trap gullible men. Once a contact is established with the potential victims, the imposter engages in frequent and intimate communication to build trust and emotional connection with them,” Cybercrimes police station inspector K Bhavani Prasad, told TOI.
“Thereafter, the cybercrooks devise a fascinating story to seek money. Besides extorting money through fake narratives, the fraudsters also blackmail their victims by threatening to make public their personal information and compromising photos shared during the relationship. We have received complaints from some of the victims, who have lost good amounts of money in the fraud,” added Prasad.
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科技人员因约会诈骗损失 280 万卢比；警方透露他是如何被骗的
维沙卡帕特南一名工程专业毕业生成为网络约会骗局的受害者，损失超过 280 万卢比。受害者被骗子操纵，他们创建虚假个人资料以建立恋爱关系。一名团伙成员已被确认，调查仍在进行中。当局敦促谨慎行事，建议不要向网上熟人透露个人信息或转账。
这些诈骗者来自特伦甘纳邦，他们巧妙地操纵受害者的情绪，以各种借口说服他转移大笔资金。警方已经确定了该团伙的一名成员 Kommagoni Lokesh，并正在寻找另外两名同伙。
“这种约会骗局是一种新型的诈骗，网络骗子在约会网站或应用程序上创建虚假的个人资料，以漂亮女性为特色，以诱骗容易上当的男性。一旦与潜在受害者建立联系，冒名顶替者就会与他们进行频繁而亲密的交流，以建立信任和情感联系，”网络犯罪警察局督察 K Bhavani Prasad 告诉《印度时报》。
“此后，网络骗子会编造一个引人入胜的故事来骗钱。除了通过虚假故事勒索钱财外，诈骗者还威胁要公开受害者的个人信息，并泄露他们交往期间分享的照片。我们收到了一些受害者的投诉，他们在诈骗中损失了大量金钱，”Prasad补充道。
2024.7.21 The fraudsters allegedly befriended a Thiruvananthapuram resident via Instagram and persuaded him to invest in the stock market, claiming they could facilitate profits using AI-powered applications. As a result, the victim was siphoned off Rs 2 crore last month.
Four Malayalis held in Cambodian call centre scam
The fraudsters allegedly befriended a Thiruvananthapuram resident via Instagram and persuaded him to invest in the stock market, claiming they could facilitate profits using AI-powered applications
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM : Thiruvananthapuram city police have arrested four individuals from Kerala in connection with an online fraud scheme operated through a Cambodian call centre. The arrested are Sadiq, 48, of Nallalam in Kozhikode, Shefeeq, 37, of Idukki, Sadiq, 24, of Vadakara, and Nandu Krishna, 21, of Thrissur.
The fraudsters allegedly befriended a Thiruvananthapuram resident via Instagram and persuaded him to invest in the stock market, claiming they could facilitate profits using AI-powered applications. As a result, the victim was siphoned off Rs 2 crore last month.
The investigation, which was initiated by a special team led by assistant commissioner C S Hari of Thiruvananthapuram City cyber crime police and supervised by deputy commissioner Nithinraj, uncovered incriminating WhatsApp conversations between the victim and the accused individuals. It was determined that the fraudulent activities were orchestrated from outside India.
The modus operandi involved the transfer of defrauded funds through branches of various nationalised banks in Kerala. “Some locals rented out their bank accounts to the fraudsters in exchange for a commission, facilitating the withdrawal of illicitly obtained money. Additionally, certain individuals were found selling their bank account details and associated SIM cards,” said DCP Nithinraj.
According to him, Pappanoor resident Manu is the mastermind behind the operation, with Sadiq playing a significant role by sourcing bank accounts for rentals to carry out the fraud. Shefeeq was responsible for transferring the embezzled funds to Cambodia in the form of digital currency. Sadiq and Nandu Krishna were involved in the scheme by offering their bank accounts for a share in the commissions. All four suspects have been remanded by the court.
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四名马拉雅利人因柬埔寨呼叫中心诈骗被捕
据称，诈骗者通过 Instagram 与一名特里凡得琅居民交朋友，并说服他投资股市，声称他们可以利用人工智能应用程序来获利
特里凡得琅：特里凡得琅市警方逮捕了四名来自喀拉拉邦的嫌疑人，他们涉嫌通过柬埔寨呼叫中心实施网络诈骗。被捕人员分别是来自科泽科德纳拉拉姆的 48 岁萨迪克、来自伊杜基的 37 岁谢菲克、来自瓦达卡拉的 24 岁萨迪克和来自特里苏尔的 21 岁南杜克里希纳。
据称，诈骗者通过 Instagram 与一名特里凡得琅居民交朋友，并说服他投资股市，声称他们可以使用人工智能应用程序来获利。结果，受害者上个月被骗走了 2 千万卢比。
2024.7.21 The Indian Embassy in collaboration with Cambodian authorities has rescued 14 Indian citizens trapped in cybercrime scam and is working for their expeditious return home, the Indian Embassy said in a statement.
14 nationals trapped in cybercrime scam in Cambodia rescued: Indian Embassy
Earlier in May, the Indian Embassy in Cambodia issued an advisory for those travelling to Cambodia for jobs
The Indian Embassy in collaboration with Cambodian authorities has rescued 14 Indian citizens trapped in cybercrime scam and is working for their expeditious return home, the Indian Embassy said in a statement.
In a post on X, the Indian Embassy in Cambodia stated, “@indembcam in collaboration with Cambodian authorities have got 14 Indian citizens trapped in cybercrime scam released. They are being looked after by Cambodian side. The Embassy working for their expeditious return home & remains committed to their welfare.”
14 Indian nationals trapped in cybercrime scam in Cambodia rescued: Indian Embassy
“In close cooperation with Cambodian authorities, the Embassy has facilitated the rescue and repatriation of over 650 Indian citizens who had fallen victim to these scams,” it said.
“Most recently, the Embassy provided specific leads to the Cambodian Police, leading to the rescue of 14 additional Indian victims. These individuals are currently being cared for by an NGO working in coordination with Cambodia’s Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation,” it added.
The Indian Embassy is in ongoing communication with Cambodian officials, urgently requesting the expedited completion of necessary formalities to “ensure the safe and timely repatriation of the 14 rescued Indian nationals back to India,” the statement said.
“The Embassy continues to closely monitor the situation and remains committed to protecting the welfare of Indian citizens in Cambodia. Indian nationals are advised to exercise extreme caution regarding any job offers in the country and to immediately report any suspicious activities to the Embassy,” it added.
Earlier in May, the Indian Embassy in Cambodia issued an advisory for those travelling to Cambodia for jobs. It asked Indian nationals to secure employment only through authorised agents approved by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
The advisory outlines the significant risks associated with fraudulent job offers and emphasises the need for caution. Indian Embassy in Cambodia stated that job seekers can also approach the Embassy of India in Phnom Penh. It noted that instances have been reported wherein Indian nationals are being lured for employment through Thailand in Laos.
The Indian Embassy in Cambodia noted that these fake jobs are for posts like ‘Digital Sales and Marketing Executives’ or ‘Customer Support Service’ by dubious companies involved in call-centre scams and crypto-currency fraud in Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone in Laos.
“All Indian nationals who are travelling for jobs in Cambodia and the Southeast Asian region, are advised that there are many fake agents operating in the region, who along with agents in India, are luring people to scam companies, involved especially in cyber crimes. Anybody who takes up a job in Cambodia should do so only through authorised agents approved by the Ministry of External Affairs of India,” the advisory stated.
According to the Indian Embassy in Cambodia, agents in places like Dubai, Bangkok, Singapore and India associated with these firms are recruiting Indian nationals by taking a simple interview and the typing test, and are offering high salaries, hotel bookings along with return air tickets and visa facilitation.
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印度大使馆救出柬埔寨网络犯罪诈骗案中受困的 14 名国民
印度大使馆在一份声明中表示，印度大使馆与柬埔寨当局合作，救出了 14 名陷入网络犯罪骗局的印度公民，并正在努力帮助他们尽快回国。
印度驻柬埔寨大使馆在 X 上的一篇帖子中表示，“@indembcam 与柬埔寨当局合作，成功解救了 14 名陷入网络犯罪骗局的印度公民。他们正在接受柬方的照顾。大使馆正在努力帮助他们尽快回国，并将继续致力于他们的福利。”
声明称：“印度大使馆与柬埔寨当局密切合作，协助营救和遣返了 650 多名遭遇此类诈骗的印度公民。”
“最近，大使馆向柬埔寨警方提供了具体线索，成功营救了另外 14 名印度受害者。这些人目前由一家非政府组织与柬埔寨社会事务、退伍军人和青年康复部合作照顾，”它补充道。
声明称，印度大使馆正与柬埔寨官员保持持续沟通，紧急请求柬埔寨加快完成必要手续，“确保 14 名获救的印度公民安全及时地返回印度”。
“大使馆将继续密切关注局势，并致力于保护在柬埔寨的印度公民的福利。建议印度公民对该国的任何工作机会保持高度谨慎，并立即向大使馆报告任何可疑活动，”它补充道。
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