Cyber cons nabbed for credit card fraud lead police to nexus in Bihar

Gurgaon: Two men arrested in the city last week told investigators that a network of cyber cons operate from Bihar and targets online users across states by offering them dealerships and franchises of prominent brands along with increasing credit card expenditure limits.Police said Kundan Patel, who belongs to Thalposh village in Nawada, and Ranjit Kumar of Jaitipur village in Nalanda, were taken into custody from Udyog Vihar on Wednesday. Cops were on the lookout for the two after the central cybercrime database I4C (Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre) alerted them about the two men living in the city.Several cybercrime complaints have been made against them in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and UP for allegedly cheating people by offering to increase credit card limits. The suspects, in return, would ask their targets to pay up a minimum amount. The charges against them include BNS sections 3(5) (common intent or joint criminal liability), 318(4) (cheating, dishonesty) and 319 (cheating by impersonation). After being taken into custody, Patel and Kumar were interrogated and told cops that they were involved in at least five such frauds.Gurgaon police spokesperson said Patel told his interrogator that youngsters in his hometown and surrounding areas such as Nawada, Nalanda, Sheikhpura, Warisaliganj and Bihar Sharif were involved in cyber cons."They engaged in fraudulent activities under the guise of installing towers, offering gas agencies, petrol pump franchises, Patanjali dealerships, vehicle agencies and other franchises. The accused said that the youths from his area send messages and advertise on social media on their offers. Then they collect a sum and issue fake sanction letters," the spokesperson said on Sunday.SHO at the Cybercrime East police station, Inspector Naveen, told TOI that Patel used to work on creating links that were offered in messages and ads while Kumar distributed them to others in their network. A police source said the two were staying in the city. "One of them has a girlfriend who is in the city to prepare for civil services. Cops said they recovered several forged documents, including sanction letters for tower installations and loan approvals, from the two suspects."Further investigation is under way.The I4C portal will alert Bihar Police about the two being taken into custody and the racket in Bihar," the SHO added," Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Valentine's day wishes, messages and gift idea !