Ahmedabad Cyber Fraud Spree: Four Victims Lose ₹26.30 Lakh In Investment, Traffic Fine And SIM Scams
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Four residents of Ahmedabad have allegedly lost a combined ₹26.30 lakh in separate cyber fraud incidents involving fake stock market investment schemes, malware files sent in the name of traffic fines and SIM deactivation used to gain access to banking accounts.
The Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Police have registered separate cases based on complaints from the victims and are tracing mobile numbers, bank accounts and other digital trails linked to the alleged fraudsters.
Odhav Businessman Loses ₹7.67 Lakh In Fake Stock Market Scheme
Harshadkumar Ambalal Parekh, 48, a grocery businessman living in an L.I.G. housing colony behind the Odhav police outpost, allegedly lost ₹7.67 lakh after responding to a Facebook advertisement promising 100% returns on share market investments.
According to his complaint, Parekh clicked on the advertisement and was subsequently added to a WhatsApp group called ‘SAMCO Investor Education Community’.
Two individuals identified as Sanvi Vadhva and Ananya allegedly gained his confidence by claiming to represent a SEBI-registered company. The accused allegedly got him registered through a fraudulent link and showed virtual profits of 200% to 300% on the application against the money he invested.
Believing the displayed returns, Parekh allegedly transferred a total of ₹7.67 lakh to different UPI IDs and bank accounts.
When he tried to withdraw the money, the accused allegedly refused to release it and demanded additional payments in the name of a 20% commission and penalty charges.
₹5 Lakh Credit Card Fraud After Fake Traffic Fine Message
Sameer Ratilal Rami, 45, who lives at Shrisadan Flats near Vasna Bhathagam Crossroads and runs a flower shop near the Vasna bus stand, allegedly lost ₹5 lakh after receiving a message about an outstanding traffic fine.
According to the complaint, Rami received a message from a virtual number claiming that a ₹1,000 traffic violation fine was pending against his vehicle, bearing registration number GJ01KX1420.
The message allegedly instructed him to download an APK file named ‘NextGen mParivahan1.0(2).apk’.
After the file was downloaded, the accused allegedly gained access to his mobile phone and activated call forwarding to an unknown number.
The fraudsters subsequently allegedly carried out transactions totalling ₹5 lakh using his RBL Bank credit card on Flipkart and other online platforms without his knowledge.
SIM Deactivated Before ₹6.97 Lakh Is Transferred From Bank Accounts
Jagdish Shankarlal Parmar, 49, a textile trader living at Gelabhai ni Vadi opposite Gheekanta Metro Station, allegedly lost ₹6.97 lakh after his mobile services were suddenly suspended.
According to the complaint, both incoming and outgoing services on his mobile number stopped working. He later discovered that an unknown person had allegedly logged into his MyJio account, changed the alternate mobile number and submitted a request to deactivate his SIM.
With the SIM inactive, transaction OTPs allegedly did not reach Parmar.
The accused then allegedly gained access to his ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank net banking accounts, liquidated his fixed deposits and transferred ₹6.97 lakh to a Kalyan Jewellers UPI ID.
73-Year-Old Motera Resident Loses ₹6.66 Lakh
In another case, 73-year-old retiree Shyamal Banikanth Bhattacharya of Maitri Avenue Bungalows in Motera allegedly lost ₹6.66 lakh after clicking on a suspicious link sent in connection with a purported vehicle-related court case.
Bhattacharya allegedly received a text message warning of legal action over a court case linked to vehicle number GJ01RN7298. After he clicked on an ‘mparivahan’ link in the message, his phone was allegedly compromised.
The complaint states that incoming text messages were subsequently forwarded to another mobile number.
Using the alleged access, the accused siphoned ₹6.66 lakh from Bhattacharya’s ICICI Bank account through four separate transactions carried out at night.
The 73-year-old reportedly came to know about the withdrawals only after receiving a call from the bank’s call centre.
Cyber Crime Police Trace Digital Trail
The four complaints point to different methods allegedly used by cyber fraudsters, including fake investment advertisements, malicious APK files, call forwarding and unauthorised SIM deactivation.
The Cyber Crime Police have registered separate cases and are investigating the mobile numbers, bank accounts, UPI IDs and other digital trails involved in the transactions.
