B’gavi cyber police bust fake WFH, loan scam network

Belagavi: City Cyber Crime police have busted a sophisticated inter-state cyberfraud network that allegedly duped citizens of crores of rupees by offering fake work from home jobs and govt loan assistance.Two key accused have been arrested—Megha Maradolkar, a Belagavi resident apprehended in Goa, and Hyderali Ghulamali Ujjainwala, who was taken into custody in Mumbai.The racket surfaced in late Feb following a complaint by a resident, Manasi. Investigations revealed that Megha lured victims with promises of lucrative remote jobs and help in securing govt loans. She allegedly collected their personal documents and used them to open multiple bank accounts without their informed consent.These accounts were then used as mule accounts to channel fraudulent funds. A search at Megha's residence led to the seizure of documents linked to as many as 72 bank accounts opened in the names of unsuspecting citizens from Belagavi.Mumbai link unearthedPolice uncovered a well-coordinated operation in which Megha allegedly couriered bank kits and passbooks to Ujjainwala in Mumbai. He, along with his son and associates—identified as Idris Ali and Aziz Bora—as well as Megha's daughter Shivani, allegedly handled the routing and distribution of the defrauded money through a wider cybercrime syndicate.Authorities have so far detected fraudulent transactions totalling more than Rs 1.2 crore. Of the accounts identified, 47 have been linked to 144 cybercrime complaints registered on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP), indicating the extensive reach of the network.The operation was led by ACP BS Mantura and inspector SN Gabi under the supervision of city police commissioner Bhushan Borase, who commended the team for tracking the complex inter-state money trail. Both accused are currently in judicial custody, while efforts are underway to apprehend other members of the syndicate.Police have urged citizens to exercise caution and avoid sharing personal documents or opening bank accounts on behalf of unknown individuals offering guaranteed jobs or loan approvals.