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Cyber Fraud: Delhi Police has busted an interstate cyber fraud racket. Four people including the owner of a digital marketing agency have been arrested.
Cyber Fraud: Delhi Police has busted an interstate cyber fraud racket. The racket created fake hotel booking websites across India and defrauded many people of more than Rs 1 crore. Police said that four people including the owner of a digital marketing agency from Uttarakhand have been arrested in this connection. The accused have been identified as Akrar (27), Sharup (26), Sohail (24) and Gopal Singh Karki (32), a digital marketer from Uttarakhand. The police officer said that the investigation started after Shashank Raizada lodged a complaint. The victim Raizada had alleged that she was cheated of Rs 68,000 while booking a room through the website of a five-star hotel in Chandigarh. The police officer said that based on the complaint, a raid was conducted in Deeg, Rajasthan. Three members of the gang were arrested. Examination of the seized devices revealed their digital network. During this time, a digital marketing agency named Gopal Singh Karki was discovered. After this, accused Karki was arrested from Uttarakhand.
More than 100 fake hotel websites were created
During the investigation, the police discovered that the gang had created more than 100 fake hotel websites, which appeared genuine to those searching for luxury hotels online. The websites used popular hotel names and were promoted through online advertisements, ensuring that their fake numbers appeared at the top of search results. The officer said that when the victims used to call the listed numbers, the accused would pretend to be hotel receptionists and offer 10 to 20 per cent discount on the advance payment. After the money was transferred, they used the money to buy gold, mobile phones and electronic goods through online merchants. In the case of the complainant, the fraudsters purchased gold jewelery worth Rs 68,000 from a website, which was delivered to a public place in Jaipur. Investigation also revealed that the accused used digital marketing tools and fake SIM cards.
The network was spread in many states including Delhi
Police said their network was spread across Delhi, Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttarakhand and their fraudulent websites were traced through 132 complaints lodged on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP). Police have recovered six mobile phones and a laptop used in the crime. The investigation revealed data related to more than 100 fake hotel websites developed and managed by a company owned by Karki. During interrogation, Karki told the police that he used to provide website development and online advertising services to other accused on commission basis. He used to attract customers through a fake website. Police said that raids are being conducted in different parts of the country to trace other possible accomplices.
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