2023.12.27 How fake profiles of IAS, IPS officers are being used to swindle the unsuspecting
Since January this year, the cyber crime cell of Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad police have together received two dozen complaints, in which people have been cheated for an amount ranging anything between Rs 50,000 and Rs 3 lakh by cyber frauds who used fake Facebook profiles of IAS and IPS officers.
IMAGINE receiving a friend request on Facebook from a prominent IAS or IPS officer serving in your city, who is a familiar face and often features in the news. Now, picture receiving a direct message from this profile asking for your phone number, then seeking assistance for their friend and in turn making you feel unexpectedly important. In such a situation, an unsuspecting person might earnestly consider the request.
IAS、IPS 官员的虚假个人资料如何被用来欺骗毫无戒心的人
想象一下，在Facebook上收到一位在你所在城市服务的著名IAS或IPS官员的好友请求，他是一位熟悉的面孔，经常出现在新闻中。现在，想象一下从这个个人资料中直接收到一条信息，询问你的电话号码，然后为他们的朋友寻求帮助，这反过来又让你感到出乎意料的重要。在这种情况下，毫无戒心的人可能会认真考虑这个请求。
自今年 1 月以来，浦那和宾布里金杰沃德警方的网络犯罪小组共收到了 20 起投诉，其中有人利用 IAS和IPS 官员 的虚假 Facebook 个人资料进行网络诈骗，被骗金额从 5 万卢比到 30 万卢比不等。
作案手法并不复杂，但却令人费解。受害者收到来自 IAS 或 IPS 官员的虚假个人资料的 Facebook 好友请求，其中包含该官员的照片、他们的信息等。受害者接受请求后，他或她会收到来自该个人资料的直接消息，询问他们的联系电话。
随后，受害人收到一条手机短消息，告知他/她 该官员在安全部队（例如中央后备警察部队）中有一位朋友，正在搬家，想要以折扣价出售他的家具。然后，另一个电话号码联系了受害者，打电话的人表明自己是中央后备警察部队官员，并发送家具的照片以及价格。
一旦受害者同意，保安人员将家具装上卡车的照片就会发送给他/她，以进一步赢得信任。然后受害者被告知家具已经在路上，可以在线付款。当家具没有到达他们手中，受害者才意识到自己被骗了。
今年 6 月，一名在浦那一家电视新闻频道工作的 41 岁记者因网络诈骗而被骗了 7 万卢比，该诈骗者使用了 IAS 官员兼浦那收藏家拉杰什·德什穆赫 (Rajesh Deshmukh) 博士的虚假个人资料。这名记者曾以专业身份与德什穆赫进行过互动，他接受了该假账户的请求，甚至在回复该账户发送的直接消息时给出了自己的电话号码。
随后，他接到了一名冒充中央警察部队官员萨诺什·库马尔 (Sanosh Kumar) 的男子打来的电话。打电话的人不仅提出出售家具，还出售他的皇家恩菲尔德子弹头。记者很喜欢这个提议，并支付了 70,000 卢比的价格，包括送货费。等了几天后，他被告知由于技术原因而被搁置。由于怀疑存在欺诈行为，记者致电德什穆赫，却得知他被一名使用假账户的骗子所欺骗。
德什穆克在接受采访时表示，“这种虚假个人资料几乎每天都会被创建，并向人们发送一揽子好友请求，其中许多人甚至接受了这些请求。我已多次呼吁人们不要接受此类请求，我也已通知有关网络小组。考虑到这些投诉，许多个人资料已被删除，但新的个人资料不断出现。人们在社交媒体空间上保持谨慎，不要成为这些骗局的牺牲品，这一点非常重要。”
在调查这一特殊案件时，浦那警方的网络犯罪小组逮捕了一名来自拉贾斯坦邦阿尔瓦尔的 23 岁男子，他在接收和转移通过诈骗获得的资金方面发挥了关键作用。目前，一个团队正在调查此案，调查指向印度境内一个技术精湛的网络犯罪团伙所扮演的角色。
负责浦那网络犯罪警察局的高级督察米纳尔·苏佩·帕蒂尔 (Minal Supe Patil) 说，“在信息安全领域，有一个叫做社会工程的概念，犯罪分子利用社会动态来操纵受害者做某事。在这里，犯罪分子利用了 IAS 和 IPS 官员的公众形象，以及他们的名字以及 CRPF（中央后备警察部队） 或陆军等安全部队的名字所带来的信任。这些诈骗的受害者来自各个年龄段和专业背景，其中大多数受过良好教育。重要的是，社交媒体用户要带着怀疑的态度看待每一个此类请求或身份不明的通信，并进行交叉检查。如果人们最终进行此类转账，他们必须立即联系警方，最好是在 24 小时内，以便我们采取措施冻结欺诈账户。”
帕蒂尔在阐述调查挑战时表示，“网络犯罪团伙滥用劳工、工人和农民的身份，这些账户是用这些人的电话号码和身份证件开设的，由网络犯罪分子操作，以换取账户持有人的小额付款。我们不断冻结这些租用的欺诈账户，但它们不断出现。错综复杂的金融网络和层层犯罪活动使得调查具有挑战性。”
How fake profiles of IAS, IPS officers are being used to swindle the unsuspecting
Since January this year, the cyber crime cell of Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad police have together received two dozen complaints, in which people have been cheated for an amount ranging anything between Rs 50,000 and Rs 3 lakh by cyber frauds who used fake Facebook profiles of IAS and IPS officers.
Updated: December 27, 2023 06:57 IST
IMAGINE receiving a friend request on Facebook from a prominent IAS or IPS officer serving in your city, who is a familiar face and often features in the news. Now, picture receiving a direct message from this profile asking for your phone number, then seeking assistance for their friend and in turn making you feel unexpectedly important. In such a situation, an unsuspecting person might earnestly consider the request.
Since January this year, the cyber crime cell of Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad police have together received two dozen complaints, in which people have been cheated for an amount ranging anything between Rs 50,000 and Rs 3 lakh by cyber frauds who used fake Facebook profiles of IAS and IPS officers.
The modus operandi is not very complicated, yet baffling. Victims receive a Facebook friend request from a fake profile of an IAS or IPS officer, which has photos of the officer, their information etc. After the victim accepts the request, he or she receives a direct message from the profile asking for their contact number.
Subsequently, a message is sent to the victim, in which he/she is told that the officer has a friend in the security forces, such as the CRPF, who is moving from one station to another and wants to sell his furniture at a discounted rate. The victim is then contacted from another phone number, where the caller identifies himself as a CRPF officer and sends photos of the furniture, along with the price.
Once the victim agrees, photos of the furniture being loaded into a truck by security personnel are sent to him/her to further gain trust. The victims are then told that the furniture is on the way and payment is sought online. When the furniture does not reach them and even the ‘officers’ go incommunicado, it is then that the victims realize that they have been duped.
In June this year, a 41-year-old journalist in Pune working for a TV news channel was cheated of Rs 70,000 by a cyber fraud, who used a fake profile of IAS officer and Pune collector Dr Rajesh Deshmukh. The journalist, who had interacted with Deshmukh in professional capacity, accepted the request from the fake account and even gave his number in reply to the direct message sent from the account.
He later received a call from a man posing as CRPF officer Sanosh Kumar. The caller not just offered to sell the furniture but also his Royal Enfield Bullet. The journalist liked the offer and paid Rs 70,000 for the deal, including the delivery. After waiting for days, he was told that it was kept on hold due to technical reasons. Suspecting a fraud, the journalist called Deshmukh only to learn that he had duped by a fraud who used a fake account.
Speaking to Express, Deshmukh said, “Such fake profiles are being created almost everyday and blanket friend requests are sent to people, many of whom even accept them. I have repeatedly made appeals asking people not to accept such requests and I have also informed the concerned cyber cell. Taking cognizance of these complaints, many profiles have been deleted but new ones keep cropping. It is very important for people to exercise caution on the social media space and not fall prey to these scams.”
Investigating this particular case, the Pune police’s cyber crime cell arrested a 23-year-old man from Alwar in Rajasthan, who played a key role in receiving and moving the money obtained through the fraud. A team is currently probing the case and investigation points to the role of a highly skilled gang of cyber criminals operating within India.
In August, a 42-year-old gardening works contractor in Chakan area of Pune was cheated using the same operandi. In this case, the frauds used a fake profile of senior IPS officer Krishna Prakash, who was Police Commissioner of Pimpri Chinchwad between September 2020 and April 2022, and currently leads Maharashtra police’s specialised counter terrorism commando unit Force One. The profile had photos of Krishna Prakash in police uniform and also of his participation in the Ironman race, which the officer has successfully completed in the past.
Using the same modus operandi, a man posing as CRPF officer Sumit Kumar offered to sell his furniture, TV, home and kitchen appliances. The victim fell for the deal and ended up losing Rs 1.5 lakh.
Speaking to Express, Krishna Prakash said, “I have lost the count of fake profiles that have been created in my name. These cyber criminals take photos from our actual social media account or photos clicked in public events and then create fake profiles to cheat people… In addition to meticulous investigation, creating awareness among all age groups is the key. Not just about this specific type of fraud but also about general cyber security guidelines. It is time we introduce this subject in school education.”
Senior inspector Minal Supe Patil, in-charge of Pune’s cyber crime police station, told The Indian Express, “Cyber criminals create fake profiles by using photos and information from original profiles. Then, they send friend requests to people from friend lists of connected people. Imagine a fisherman unfurling a net or dangling a bait. Those who are hooked, are skillfully defrauded.”
“In the information security domain, there is a concept called social engineering where criminals manipulate victims into doing something by exploiting the social dynamics. Here, the criminals exploit the public image of the IAS and IPS officers, the trust that comes with their names and with the names of security forces like the CRPF or the Army. Victims of these frauds are from all age groups and professional backgrounds and most of them are well educated. It is important that social media users look at every such request or unidentified communication with doubt and cross-check them. If people end up making such transfers, they must approach the police immediately, preferably within 24 hours, so that we can take steps to freeze fraudulent accounts,” said Patil.
Elaborating on the investigation challenges, Patil said, “Cyber criminal gangs misuse identities of labourers, workers and farmers. The accounts are opened with phone numbers and identity documents of these people and are operated by cyber criminals in return for small payments to the account holders. We keep freezing these rented fraudulent accounts but they keep popping up. Intricate financial web and layers of criminals operating in these rackets make the probe challenging.”
First uploaded on: 27-12-2023 at 04:12 IST
2023.12.13 Elderly man duped of Rs 50,000 by men who ‘kidnapped’ nephew
A 62-year-old man in Yamuna Vihar was cheated of Rs 50,000 by scammers who posed as kidnappers and even imitated his nephew’s voice on call. In a panic, he transferred money to the accused to “free” his nephew — only to realise he had been duped.
Police are now investigating if the suspects simply imitated the nephew’s voice or if special AI software was at play.
老人被“绑架”侄子的人骗了5万卢比；警方正在调查人工智能软件的可能使用
德里警方表示，他们正在调查被告是否使用软件模仿侄子的声音并欺骗居住在亚穆纳维哈尔的受害者。
亚穆纳维哈尔市一名62岁男子被骗子骗走5万卢比，骗子冒充绑匪，甚至模仿他侄子随叫随到的声音。惊慌失措中，他将钱转给被告以“释放”他的侄子，却发现自己被骗了。
警方目前正在调查嫌疑人是否只是模仿侄子的声音，或者是否有特殊的人工智能软件在起作用。
据警方称，拉克希米·昌德·查瓦拉接到了被告打来的两到三个电话，威胁要杀死他的侄子。“起初，我不相信他们。然后他们告诉我他们会伤害我表弟的儿子并杀死他……然后他们让我听他的声音……我能听到他在哭。我非常害怕，然后……就按照他们告诉我的去做，”查瓦拉说。
查瓦拉说，被告给了他另一个号码，以便通过Paytm汇款：“当时，我无法通过电话与我的侄子取得联系。我当天就转了5万卢比……但后来当我打电话给他时，我发现他安全在家……我意识到我被骗了。”
警方尚未就此案逮捕任何人，DCP (Northeast) Joy N Tirkey 表示，已进行了登记。“这名男子说他听到了他侄子的哭声，并相信是他……我们正在检查电话记录和其他证据，”他说。
高级官员表示，他们发现被告使用的其中一个号码涉及其他诈骗。“冒充警察的男子也用同样的号码来欺骗和勒索人们。被告甚至使用旁遮普邦和哈里亚纳邦警察的照片作为他们的 WhatsApp 显示照片来说服受害者，”一名警官说。
当被问及使用人工智能软件的可能性时，该官员表示，他们正在研究不同的应用程序来确定这一点。
“根据初步调查，被告和受害人彼此不认识。然而，被告设法从社交媒体或一些中间人那里获得了受害人及其家人的详细信息……被告可能使用语音调制软件来复制侄子的哭声。” 他说。
Elderly man duped of Rs 50,000 by men who ‘kidnapped’ nephew; police looking into possible use of AI software
The Delhi police said they are probing if the accused used a software to imitate the nephew’s voice and trick the victim who resides in Yamuna Vihar.
New Delhi | Updated: December 13, 2023 02:56 IST
A 62-year-old man in Yamuna Vihar was cheated of Rs 50,000 by scammers who posed as kidnappers and even imitated his nephew’s voice on call. In a panic, he transferred money to the accused to “free” his nephew — only to realise he had been duped.
Police are now investigating if the suspects simply imitated the nephew’s voice or if special AI software was at play.
According to officers, Lakshmi Chand Chawla received two-three calls from the accused who threatened to kill his nephew. “At first, I didn’t believe them. They then told me they would hurt my cousin’s son and kill him… they then made me listen to his voice… I could hear him crying. I got very scared and… did what they told me to,” Chawla said.
Chawla said the accused gave him another number to send the money through Paytm: “At the time, I was not able to connect with my nephew over the phone. I transferred Rs 50,000 the same day… But later when I called him, I found out he was safe at home… I realised I was cheated.”
Police are yet to make any arrest in the case. DCP (Northeast) Joy N Tirkey said an FIR has been registered under sections of cheating and cheating by personation. “The man said he heard his nephew’s cries and believed it was him… We are checking phone records and other evidence,” he said.
Senior officers said they found that one of the numbers used by the accused was involved in other scams. “The same number was used to cheat and extort people by men who posed as police officers. The accused even used photos of Punjab and Haryana policemen as their WhatsApp display photos to convince their victims,” said an officer.
When asked about the possibility of AI software being used, the officer said they are looking into different applications and portals to ascertain this.
“As per initial enquiry, the accused and victim are not known to each other. However, the accused managed to get the victim’s details and that of his family from either social media or some middleman… The accused may have used voice modulation software to replicate the nephew’s cries.” he said.
2023.12.3 Karnataka govt orders CBI probe into Guru Raghavendra bank scam
The Congress government in Karnataka Saturday ordered a CBI inquiry into the Sri Guru Raghavendra Sahakara Bank Niyamitha (SGRSBN) scam in Basavanagudi.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said, “Thousands of depositors invested their lifetime savings in the bank with dreams like marriage, owning a house, etc. Because of the bank fraud, all the depositors are worried about their future. Even when I was the Opposition leader earlier, I had raised my voice against the bank fraud and demanded a CBI probe to deliver justice to the depositors. I have seen the frustration and the agony of those who lost their deposit money. Hence, to ensure justice for all, we decided to hand over the investigation to the CBI.”
In 2020, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed withdrawal restrictions on the SGRSBN. Investigation revealed that more than Rs 2,500 crore was misappropriated by the bank management. So far, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached assets worth Rs 159 crore as part of its probe into the alleged scam.
卡纳塔克邦政府下令 CBI 调查 Guru Raghavendra 银行诈骗案
卡纳塔克邦首席部长 Siddaramaiah 于 2023 年 11 月 29 日星期三在班加罗尔班加罗尔宫举行的 2023 年班加罗尔科技峰会 (BTS) 上发表讲话。
卡纳塔克邦国大党政府周六下令对 Basavanagudi 的 Sri Guru Raghavendra Sahakara Bank Niyamitha (SGRSBN) 骗局进行调查。
首席部长西达拉玛雅表示：“成千上万的储户将毕生的积蓄投入银行，怀着结婚、拥有房子等梦想。由于银行欺诈，所有储户都对自己的未来感到担忧。” 早在我担任反对党领袖时，我就曾大声疾呼反对银行欺诈行为，并要求印度中央调查局进行调查，为储户伸张正义。我看到了那些失去存款的人的沮丧和痛苦。因此，为了确保所有人的正义，我们决定将调查交给印度中央调查局（CBI）。”
2020年，印度储备银行（RBI）对SGRSBN实施了提款限制。调查显示，银行管理层挪用了超过 250 亿卢比。到目前为止，执法局 (ED) 已扣押了价值 15.9 亿卢比的资产，作为对涉嫌诈骗的调查的一部分。
在45,000名储户中，大多数人从存款保险和信用担保公司（DICGC）获得了50万卢比的保险金额。然而，超过 15,000 名存款超过 60 万卢比的储户尚未获得全额救济。
今年二月，执法局 (ED)逮捕了一名涉嫌银行诈骗的主要受益人。据 ED 称，被告 Rajesh VR 据称在银行管理层的纵容下从银行挪用了大量资金。根据印度储备银行的检查报告，他从银行获得了 4.04 亿卢比的贷款，但尚未偿还。
Karnataka govt orders CBI probe into Guru Raghavendra bank scam
The ED has so far attached assets worth Rs 159 crore as part of its probe into the alleged scam.
Bengaluru | Updated: December 3, 2023 06:39 IST
The Congress government in Karnataka Saturday ordered a CBI inquiry into the Sri Guru Raghavendra Sahakara Bank Niyamitha (SGRSBN) scam in Basavanagudi.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said, “Thousands of depositors invested their lifetime savings in the bank with dreams like marriage, owning a house, etc. Because of the bank fraud, all the depositors are worried about their future. Even when I was the Opposition leader earlier, I had raised my voice against the bank fraud and demanded a CBI probe to deliver justice to the depositors. I have seen the frustration and the agony of those who lost their deposit money. Hence, to ensure justice for all, we decided to hand over the investigation to the CBI.”
In 2020, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed withdrawal restrictions on the SGRSBN. Investigation revealed that more than Rs 2,500 crore was misappropriated by the bank management. So far, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached assets worth Rs 159 crore as part of its probe into the alleged scam.
Out of the 45,000 depositors, most got the Rs 5 lakh insurance amount from Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC). However, over 15,000 depositors who have deposited more than Rs 6 lakh are yet to get the complete relief amount.
In February this year, the ED arrested a major beneficiary of the alleged bank scam. According to ED, the accused, Rajesh V R, allegedly siphoned off huge funds from the bank in connivance with its management. As per a Reserve Bank of India inspection report, he availed of loans of Rs 40.4 crore from the bank but has yet to repay them.
2023.12.2 New Scam: Noida Woman ‘Digitally Arrested’, Duped Of ₹ 11 Lakh
Noida: The Uttar Pradesh Police has launched an investigation after a Noida resident found herself at the receiving end of a new cyber fraud trend, wherein she was duped of more than ₹ 11 lakh and held under “digital arrest” for a day, officials said on Saturday.
This is the first case in the new trend of “digital arrest fraud” lodged at the Cyber Crime police station in Noida. The thugs posed as police officials who mentioned the names of an IPS officer in the CBI and the founder of a grounded airline, associating the 50-year-old victim in a fictitious money-laundering case.
新骗局：诺伊达女子“被数字逮捕”，被骗110万卢比
该女子接到电话后被告知，一张 SIM 卡是用她的 Aadhaar 卡购买的，并用于非法广告和骚扰女性。然后她通过视频电话受到“审问”。
该女子向北方邦警察网络犯罪官员报告了此事，并指控自己诈骗了111.1 万卢比，此外还从早到晚被“数字逮捕”。官员周六表示，北方邦警方已展开调查。
诺伊达第 36 区网络犯罪警察局负责人 Reeta Yadav 督察表示，已根据《信息技术法》和印度刑法典 (IPC) 的相关规定提交了 FIR。“对此案的调查正在进行中，”
该警官敦促人们警惕新出现的网络犯罪，并尽早拨打中央求助热线或紧急电话向警方求助，或者向当地警察局的网络服务台举报此类活动。
“人们还应该知道，警察永远不会通过网络方式询问任何人。如果有人这样威胁你，请他们向你发送适当的通知，询问他们的详细信息，并告诉他们你要来警察局见他们，”
New Scam: Noida Woman ‘Digitally Arrested’, Duped Of ₹ 11 Lakh
The woman was called and told that a SIM card was purchased using her Aadhaar card and used for illegal advertising and harassment of women. She was then “interrogated” over a video call.
Updated: December 02, 2023 6:49 pm IST
Noida: The Uttar Pradesh Police has launched an investigation after a Noida resident found herself at the receiving end of a new cyber fraud trend, wherein she was duped of more than ₹ 11 lakh and held under “digital arrest” for a day, officials said on Saturday.
This is the first case in the new trend of “digital arrest fraud” lodged at the Cyber Crime police station in Noida. The thugs posed as police officials who mentioned the names of an IPS officer in the CBI and the founder of a grounded airline, associating the 50-year-old victim in a fictitious money-laundering case.
A similar case was recently reported in Haryana’s Faridabad where cyber thugs, posing as police personnel, got a woman “digitally arrested” for more than a week after convincing her that her personal IDs were used for illegal activities. The thugs then asked her to stay online via Skype and not share this information with anyone even as they kept a watch on her throughout the period.
In her complaint, the Noida-based woman has claimed that she was contacted over an IVR (interactive voice response) call on November 13 and told that a mobile phone SIM card was purchased using her Aadhaar card in Mumbai and used for illegal advertising and harassment of women.
“Then my call was transferred to a person (who identified himself as a Mumbai Police officer) who did the initial interrogation over the call and then on Skype VC. Then he informed that I have another allegation of money laundering related to (the founder of an airline) for which an FIR has been registered against me and an arrest warrant issued by the Supreme Court for which he sent documents on Skype,” the woman has said.
“After the interrogation, he said I am innocent and not guilty, so he is transferring the interrogation (to an IPS officer posted with the CBI, Mumbai) for further investigation of this case. Then he gave the Skype ID and asked me to request the CBI officer to do the priority investigation on VC to remove my arrest warrant,” she has said in her complaint.
The said CBI officer told her that during the investigation of the airline founder, police found 246 debit cards from his house and one of those had the victim’s name on it, which was used to open a bank account with her Aadhaar card.
“He then said my account was used for a fund transfer of ₹ 2 crore for which I have been paid ₹ 20 lakh. However, he said I do not look to be involved in this case, so to complete the investigation, I need to transfer funds from all my accounts to my ICICI account and subsequently, transfer the funds from the ICICI account to the PFC account as per the directives of the Supreme Court…,” she said.
The woman has claimed that she was told not to disclose this information as it was related to “national security and will make me liable for further action”.
“Also, to prove not guilty of the crime, he asked me to keep sufficient balance in my accounts for which he also advised to apply for a personal instant loan of ₹ 20 lakh from ICICI and gave the details of how to apply for the same, which I denied but he forced me to arrange ₹ 3 lakh more through the same and after much pressure, I had applied for the same, which is also transferred to the PFC account,” she said.
“They also took a picture of my signature on Skype on the pretext of validating my Aadhaar card for investigation,” she has alleged.
The woman reported the matter to the Uttar Pradesh Police’s Cyber Crime officials and alleged a fraud of ₹ 11.11 lakh with her, besides being “digitally arrested” from morning to night.
Inspector Reeta Yadav, in-charge of the Cyber Crime police station in Noida Sector 36, said an FIR has been lodged under the relevant provisions of the Information Technology Act and Indian Penal Code (IPC).
“An investigation into the case is underway,” she told PTI.
The officer urged people to be cautious of emerging online crimes and reach out to police at the earliest either on the central helpline number 1930 or emergency number 112 or report such activities to the cyber desk of local police stations.
“People should also know that police never question any person digitally. If someone threatens you like this, ask them to send you a proper notice, ask for their details and tell them that you are coming to the police station to meet them,” Ms Yadav said.
2023.11.24 Odisha Crime Branch Arrests 8 Persons From New Delhi & UP For Cyber Fraud
Bhubaneswar: The Cyber Crime unit of Odisha Crime Branch has arrested 8 persons from New Delhi and Uttar Pradesh for allegedly duping people on the plea of lucrative insurance policy and loan.
The Crime Branch arrested the 8 persons on the basis of investigation into the complaint of Dillip Kumar Jalan, a resident of Bhubaneswar, that he and his wife had become victims of insurance fraud of Rs 76,15,955.
布巴内斯瓦尔：奥里萨邦犯罪分局网络犯罪部门逮捕了来自新德里和北方邦的 8 名网络诈骗人员，他们涉嫌以利润丰厚的保险单和贷款为由欺骗他人。
犯罪部门根据对布巴内斯瓦尔居民迪利普·库马尔·贾兰（Dillip Kumar Jalan）的投诉进行调查逮捕了这 8 人，称他和他的妻子成为价值 76,15,955 卢比的保险诈骗案的受害者。
根据投诉，Dilip 的妻子持有 HDFC 人寿保险，到期价值为 200 万卢比。7月，多名不明身份人士通过不同手机号码联系他升级保单。其中一项提议是将现有保单升级至 27.5 亿卢比并促进提前发放。
被来电者说服后，迪利普按照他们的指示，于 7 月 5 日至 9 月 28 日期间将 76,15,955 卢比存入 SBI (2)、Kotak Mahindra (1) 和 Axis Bank (1) 的四个独立银行账户。
他在Pramoda Bali的SBI账户中存入了287.3万卢比，在Tej Kumar的SBI账户中存入了83.2万卢比，在Kavya Singh的Axis银行账户中存入了275.4万卢比，在Asish Kumar的Kotak Mahindra账户中存入了115.6万卢比。
犯罪部门根据 IT 法立案，并在调查过程中收集了必要的信息和数字证据。据了解，被告居住在奥里萨邦以外。网络犯罪部门的三个小组前往新德里、Fatehpur 和 Mau，逮捕了网络诈骗团伙的 8 人。
调查过程中发现，被告比姆（Bhim）、拉古·阿南德（Raghu Anand）和鲁帕利·古普塔（Rupali Gupta）此前曾在保险和贷款相关领域工作。Bhim 过去常常从各种来源收集有关保单持有人或寻求贷款的人的信息。这三个人就像呼叫中心一样运作并联系那些人。
在从 Dilip 挪用了 76,15,955 卢比后，Raghu Anand、Rupali Gupta 和 Bhim 将钱转入 Bhanu Pratap Yadav 的银行账户。随后，犯罪主脑拉古·阿南德和比姆从各个ATM机上提取了这笔钱。
除了这四人之外，犯罪部门还逮捕了另外四名参与诈骗的人，并将他们移交给布巴内斯瓦尔的 SDJM 法院。
Odisha Crime Branch Arrests 8 Persons From New Delhi & UP For Cyber Fraud
ODISHACYBER CRIME
On Nov 24, 2023
Bhubaneswar: The Cyber Crime unit of Odisha Crime Branch has arrested 8 persons from New Delhi and Uttar Pradesh for allegedly duping people on the plea of lucrative insurance policy and loan.
The Crime Branch arrested the 8 persons on the basis of investigation into the complaint of Dillip Kumar Jalan, a resident of Bhubaneswar, that he and his wife had become victims of insurance fraud of Rs 76,15,955.
As per the complaint, Dilip’s wife had an HDFC life insurance policy with maturity value of Rs 20 lakh. In July, several unidentified persons contacted him from different mobile phone numbers to upgrade the policy. One such offer was to upgrade the existing policy to Rs 2.75 crore and facilitate an early release.
Convinced by the callers, Dilip deposited Rs 76,15,955 in four separate bank accounts in SBI (2), Kotak Mahindra (1) and Axis Bank (1) between July 5 and September 28 as per their directions.
He deposited Rs 28.73 lakh in SBI account of Pramoda Bali, Rs 8.32 lakh in SBI account of Tej Kumar, Rs 27.54 lakh in Axis Bank account of Kavya Singh and Rs 11.56 lakh in Kotak Mahindra account of Asish Kumar.
The CB registered a case under IT Act and collected necessary information and digital evidence during investigation. It came to know that the accused persons are residing outside Odisha. Three teams of Cyber Crime unit proceeded to New Delhi and Fatehpur and Mau in UP and arrested the 8 persons who were part of a group of cyber fraudsters.
During the investigation, it came to light that the accused persons, Bhim, Raghu Anand and Rupali Gupta were earlier working in insurance and loan related fields. Bhim used to collect information regarding policy holders or those seeking loan from various sources. These three operated like a call centre and contacted those persons.
After siphoning off Rs 76,15,955 from Dilip, Raghu Anand, Rupali Gupta and Bhim transferred the money into bank accounts of Bhanu Pratap Yadav. Subsequently, Raghu Anand and Bhim, who are the main brain behind the crime, withdrew the money from various ATMs.
Besides the four persons, the Crime Branch arrested four others involved in the racker and forwarded them to SDJM court in Bhubaneswar.
2023.11.7 Arrests made in $300 million Indian crypto scam
An ongoing crypto scam in India that duped around 100,000 people out of $300 million continues to unravel, with eight new arrests, including four police officers.
The elaborate scheme, which has been under the Special Investigation Team’s (SIT) lens, saw victims from various backgrounds, including 5,000 government officials and roughly 1,000 police personnel. This deceptive operation had been running since 2018, when fraudsters first began peddling the local cryptocurrency named Korvio Coin, or KRO coins, which later involved multiple cryptocurrencies through sham websites, including a rug pull incident.
The scandal, originating in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district, drew in over a thousand police officials. While the majority were swindled, some reportedly reaped substantial profits, and a few even became active promoters of the fraudulent cryptocurrency, bringing in more investors.
在打击备受瞩目的加密货币欺诈行动中，喜马偕尔邦特别调查组 (SIT) 取得了实质性进展，拘留了包括 4 名警察在内的 8 名人员，该诈骗案涉及金额达 250 亿卢比（3.0045 亿美元）的巨额诈骗案，自2018年以来一直在运作。
SIT 在规模庞大的加密货币骗局中不懈地追求正义，导致最近发生了一系列逮捕事件。调查近几周来势头强劲，目前已逮捕 8 人，最新逮捕的嫌疑人包括执法官员和森林警卫等不同群体。
被告包括哈米尔布尔的纳雷什·库马尔、班加尔监狱看守的苏尼尔·库马尔、哈米尔布尔的女警官乔蒂和西姆拉坎达监狱的警察巴尔比尔·辛格。拉姆·库马尔·拉纳 (Ram Kumar Rana) 在桑贾普尔地赫拉 (Sunjanpur Tihra) 履行森林警卫职责，与来自哈米尔布尔 (Hamirpur) 的平民基尔尚·杜特 (Kirshan Dutt)、巴迪 (Baddi) 的尼尔·迪曼 (Neel Dhiman) 和索兰 (Solan) 的古迪普 (Gurdeep) 一起，也发现自己陷入了 SIT 所布下的网中。
除了这些逮捕事件外，SIT 最近还拘留了一名乌纳区居民阿布舍克 (Abhishek)，他被认为是欺骗超过 10 万人的行动的幕后策划者。该骗局规模之大，引起了强烈反响，不仅影响了普通公民，还影响了 5,000 多名政府雇员，其中包括遭受经济损失的警察。
此案在喜马偕尔邦引起了轩然大波，导致超过 10 万名受害者因加密货币投资丰厚回报的承诺而遭受诈骗。这一骗局承诺带来巨额利润，吸引了大量民众参与，其中包括大量政府雇员。欺诈的规模和规模不仅造成了广泛的个人财务困境，也给州政府带来了极大的尴尬。
为了摧毁这个诈骗网络，喜马偕尔邦警方正在与旁遮普邦警方密切合作。他们得到了联邦内政部的全力支持保证，坚定了他们确保责任人面临严格法律后果的决心。
随着喜马偕尔邦加密货币骗局的不断展开，它有力地提醒人们加密市场的波动性和往往不受监管的性质。这一备受瞩目的案件很可能会促使印度重新评估加密货币法规和投资实践。随着 SIT 继续其辛勤工作，喜马偕尔邦及其他地区的人民密切关注，希望正义得到伸张，并获得投资回报。
➤印度警方逮捕了约 18 人，其中包括 4 名警察，他们涉嫌参与一起价值 3 亿美元的加密货币诈骗案，该诈骗案影响了喜马偕尔邦约 10 万人。受害者被邀请投资一种名为 Korvio Coin (KRO) 的加密货币，但后来该骗局也纳入了其他代币。大约 5,000 名政府官员和大约 1,000 名警察成为该骗局的受害者，其中一些人自己也成为了骗局的发起者。
据称，该骗局是由苏巴什·夏尔马 (Subhash Sharma) 策划的，但目前尚未被捕。这种特殊的欺诈行为于 9 月被发现，但早在 2018 年就一直在持续。
（要说离谱，还得是印度）
November 6, 2023
Arrests made in $300 million Indian crypto scam
Indian police have arrested around eighteen people, including four police officers, in connection with a $300 million cryptocurrency scam that affected around 100,000 people in Himachal Pradesh. Victims were invited to invest in a cryptocurrency called Korvio Coin (KRO), but later the scam incorporated other tokens as well. Around 5,000 government officials and around 1,000 police fell victim to the scam, with some themselves becoming promoters.
The scam was allegedly orchestrated by Subhash Sharma, who has not been apprehended. This particular fraud was uncovered in September, but has been ongoing since as long ago as 2018.
Major crypto scam is being investigated by authorities in Himachal Pradesh
Scam News
Nov, 06, 2023
3 min read
In a significant crackdown on high-profile cryptocurrency fraud, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in Himachal Pradesh has made substantial headway, detaining eight individuals, including four police officers, in connection with a colossal Rs 2,500 crore ($300.45 million) scam that has been unraveling since 2018.
Ongoing investigation yields more arrests
The SIT’s relentless pursuit of justice in the sprawling cryptocurrency scam has led to a recent series of arrests. The investigation, which has gained momentum in recent weeks, has now seen 8 individuals apprehended, with the latest detentions bringing in a diverse group of suspects, ranging from law enforcement officials to a forest guard.
Among the accused are Naresh Kumar of Hamirpur, Sunil Kumar, who served as a Jail Warder at Bangarh jail, Jyoti, a lady constable posted at Hamirpur, and Balbir Singh, a police personnel stationed at Kanda Jail in Shimla. Ram Kumar Rana, fulfilling his duties as a forest guard in Sunjanpur Tihra, alongside civilians Kirshan Dutt from Hamirpur, Neel Dhiman from Baddi, and Gurdeep from Solan, also find themselves entangled in the legal net cast by the SIT.
In addition to these arrests, the SIT recently took into custody one Abhishek, a resident of the Una district, believed to be the mastermind behind the operation that duped over 1 lakh individuals. The vast scale of the scam has resonated deeply, affecting not just private citizens but also over 5,000 government employees, including police officers who have suffered financial losses.
The deep impact of the crypto scam
The case has sent shockwaves through Himachal Pradesh, leaving in its wake over 1 lakh victims defrauded by the promise of lucrative returns on cryptocurrency investments. The scam, which promised substantial profits, drew in a vast number of people, including a significant number of government employees. The size and scale of the fraud have caused not only widespread personal financial distress but also significant embarrassment to the State Government.
Director General of Police Abhishek Dullar, leading the SIT, has taken the accused into five days of police remand to further probe the depths of the complex case. During interactions with the media, DIG Dullar emphasized the team’s determination to continue the investigation aggressively to identify and apprehend all individuals associated with the scam.
As the investigation deepens, the SIT has expressed concerns that a considerable sum, amounting to Rs 500 crores, may be irretrievable, dealing a harsh blow to the victims who had placed their hard-earned money into what they believed were viable investments.
Collaborative efforts and a warning to investors
In their quest to dismantle the scam network, the Himachal Pradesh police are working closely with the Punjab Police. They have received assurances of full support from the Union Home Ministry, reinforcing their resolve to ensure that those responsible face stringent legal consequences.
The sweeping 2018 cryptocurrency scam stands as a stark cautionary tale for investors and crypto traders across India. The authorities have underscored the need for heightened awareness and due diligence among potential investors. In light of the scam, police, and regulatory bodies are urging the public to conduct comprehensive research and exercise great caution before investing in any companies or platforms offering cryptocurrency investment opportunities.
As the Himachal Pradesh cryptocurrency scam continues to unfold, it serves as a potent reminder of the volatile and often unregulated nature of crypto markets. This high-profile case may well prompt a reevaluation of cryptocurrency regulations and investment practices in India. As the SIT continues its diligent work, the people of Himachal Pradesh and beyond watch closely, hopeful for justice and a return on their investments.
Conclusion
The ongoing cryptocurrency scam investigation in Himachal Pradesh exposes the risks inherent in unregulated investment spaces. The actions taken by authorities, resulting in a significant number of arrests, underscore the need for greater regulatory oversight in the crypto domain. While the investigation progresses, the potential loss of funds stands as a cautionary tale for investors, signaling the importance of diligence and the need for enhanced investor protection mechanisms in the burgeoning world of cryptocurrency.
Cryptocurrency Fraud Case: मुख्य आरोपी सुभाष की मंडी-जीरकपुर में तीन करोड़ की संपत्ति जब्त
अमर उजाला ब्यूरो, शिमला Updated Tue, 07 Nov 2023 10:34 AM IST
शिमला
पुलिस की विशेष टीम (एसआईटी) ने क्रिप्टोकरेंसी ठगी मामले के मुख्य आरोपी सुभाष की मंडी और जीरकपुर (पंजाब) में 3 करोड़ रुपये की संपत्ति जब्त कर दी है।
विस्तार
हिमाचल पुलिस की विशेष टीम (एसआईटी) ने क्रिप्टोकरेंसी ठगी मामले के मुख्य आरोपी सुभाष की मंडी और जीरकपुर (पंजाब) में तीन करोड़ रुपये की संपत्ति जब्त कर दी है। अब तक मामले में आरोपियों की साढ़े 12 करोड़ की संपत्ति सीज की जा चुकी है। संपत्ति आरोपी सुखदेव, हेमराज और सुभाष की है। एसआईटी अभिषेक की संपत्ति भी खंगाल रही है। पुलिस की वित्तीय टीम शनिवार रात को गिरफ्तार किए 8 आरोपियों की संपत्तियां खंगालने में भी जुट गई है। हफ्ते के भीतर उनकी संपत्तियों का लेखा-जोखा पुलिस के पास आ जाएगा।
एसआईटी का मानना है कि सुभाष की मंडी और जीरकपुर में छह संपत्तियां हैं। आरोपी ने प्लॉट और फ्लैट खरीदे हैं, इनको जब्त किया गया है। जिन आरोपियों ने अन्य नाम से भी संपत्तियां बनाई हैं, उनका भी रिकॉर्ड खंगाला जा रहा है। आरोपी सुभाष अभी दुबई में है। कुछ आरोपियों की गिरफ्तारी के बाद वह दुबई भाग गया था। उसका बीजा खत्म हो गया है। पुलिस को अंदेशा है कि आरोपी सुभाष की 200 करोड़ की संपत्ति हो सकती है।
पांच और आरोपियों की आज हो सकती गिरफ्तारी
एसआईटी अब तक मामले में 18 आरोपियों को गिरफ्तार कर चुकी है। मंगलवार को पांच और आरोपी गिरफ्तार किए जा सकते हैं। मामले में एसआईटी को 351 शिकायतें मिल चुकी हैं। तीन दिन पहले आंकड़ा 293 था। आरोपियों के झांसे में आकर लोगों ने लाखों रुपये का निवेश किया है। अब पीड़ित पुलिस से पैसा वापस दिलवाने की मांग कर रहे हैं। क्रिप्टोकरेंसी मामले में दो हजार करोड़ रुपये के घोटाले की आशंका है।
ARRESTS OVER INDIA’S KORVIO COIN CRYPTO SCAM RISE TO 18
NOVEMBER 7, 2023 12:20 AM UTC
An ongoing crypto scam in India that duped around 100,000 people out of $300 million continues to unravel, with eight new arrests, including four police officers.
The elaborate scheme, which has been under the Special Investigation Team’s (SIT) lens, saw victims from various backgrounds, including 5,000 government officials and roughly 1,000 police personnel. This deceptive operation had been running since 2018, when fraudsters first began peddling the local cryptocurrency named Korvio Coin, or KRO coins, which later involved multiple cryptocurrencies through sham websites, including a rug pull incident.
The scandal, originating in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district, drew in over a thousand police officials. While the majority were swindled, some reportedly reaped substantial profits, and a few even became active promoters of the fraudulent cryptocurrency, bringing in more investors.
Despite over 56 complaints lodged over two years, the scam only recently unraveled following extensive probes by various agencies, including the Enforcement Directorate. Recent searches led to the discovery of around 250,000 ID cards related to the suspects. Investigations revealed that over 100 individuals made profits exceeding $240,000 each, and around 200 others earned about $120,000 each from the scam.
To entice investors, the swindlers launched not only the ‘Korvio Coin’ but also another digital token named ‘DGT Coin,’ setting up counterfeit websites displaying manipulated prices for these cryptocurrencies. They promised high returns in short periods, expanding their network through a chain of new investors.
The scam gained legitimacy as some police personnel, after taking voluntary retirement, became promoters of the scheme, thus attracting a wider circle of investors. The scale of the scam was vast, with some individuals bringing in up to 1,000 people each.
Authorities have found that the perpetrators used misinformation, deception, and even threats to keep the operation afloat. They continued to fleece investors by fluctuating the cryptocurrency prices, leading to substantial financial damages.
While 18 arrests have been made to date, the alleged mastermind behind the scam, Subhash Sharma, remains elusive. Authorities have seized several properties linked to Sharma in the ongoing investigation.
The Enforcement Directorate’s probe is expanding to include the involvement of five women who are suspected of having served as agents or promoters for Sharma. This case is unfolding as one of the largest cryptocurrency frauds in India, revealing the perils and potential for exploitation in the unregulated crypto market.
印度警方在價值3億美元的加密詐騙案中已逮捕18人
2023/11/07 02:31
據印度當地媒體消息，印度警方在價值3億美元的Himachal Pradesh加密詐騙案中已逮捕18人，其中包括4名警察。根據特別調查組(SIT)的調查結果，Himachal Pradesh騙局的受害者包括5,000名政府官員和約1,000名警察。該騙局於9月下旬曝光，但可能早在2018年就已開始，詐騙者通過涉及當地加密貨幣Korvio Coin（或KRO幣）的投資計劃接近潛在受害者。據報導，該調查仍在繼續，騙局頭目Subhash Sharma仍然在逃。
印度警方在價值3億美元的加密詐騙案中再次逮捕8人
2023-11-07 8:16
11月7日消息，據CoinDesk報道，印度警方在喜馬偕爾邦一起涉及3億美元的加密詐騙案中再次逮捕了8人，其中包括四名警察，目前已有18人被捕。該騙局影響了約10萬人，其中包括5000名政府官員和約1000名警察。
該騙局於9月下旬曝光，但可能早在2018年就已開始，詐騙者通過涉及當地加密貨幣Korvio Coin的投資計劃和其他幾種通過假網站推廣的加密貨幣，隨後跑路。據報道，調查發現超過100人從該騙局中每人獲利24萬美元，另有200人每人獲利約12萬美元。主謀Subhash Sharma仍在逃，與他有關的幾處財產已被查明並被扣押。
2023.10.20 Amazon, Microsoft, and India crack down on tech support scams
Call center operators use pop-ups, malware, and cold calls to get people to pay for PC ‘fixes’ they don’t really need.
印度的中央调查局（Central Bureau Investigation，CBI）、微软与Amazon周四（10/19）宣布，它们已联手破获了位于印度的技术支持诈骗活动，此一被CBI命名为Chakra-II的扫荡行动涉及了5个案件，总计搜索了76个地点，扣押了许多的手机、电脑、服务器、SIM卡、硬盘、电子邮件，也冻结了多个银行帐户。
根据CBI的说明，这些诈骗份子伪装成全球IT大厂（微软）与交易平台（Amazon），于印度五个州经营多个客服中心，宣称自己是这两大品牌的技术支持人员，且时间长达5年。他们可能透过网页上跳出的信息来谎称受害者的系统有问题，并提供免付费电话，在受害者主动联系之后，他们就会要求自远程登录受害者电脑以协助检查，再宣称系统的确有问题，进而要求受害者支付高昂的服务费用，或是于系统上真的植入恶意程序、勒索软件，甚至是窃取受害者的金融信息。
虽然这些诈骗的客服中心设在印度，但受害者却主要位于美国，另也有加拿大、德国、澳大利亚、西班牙及英国的微软及Amazon用户受害，受害人数超过2,000人。根据美国联邦调查局（FBI）的统计，2022年因技术支持诈骗而损失的金额超过10亿美元。
微软与Amazon针对相关诈骗案件在美国与印度提出了联合诉讼，而这也是这两家公司的首度合作。微软指出，技术支持诈骗是一个代价高昂且横跨整个产业的问题，这些非法的客服中心每年都会危害数千名无辜的使用者。
其实技术支持诈骗存在已久，微软也曾公布相关诈骗的手法，并提醒使用者不要轻易上当，强调微软不会要求使用者提供金融信息，系统上跳出错误讯息时不会含有电话号码，也不会要求使用者以加密货币或礼物卡来支付技术支持费用，以及自第三方网站下载软件时应特别小心。
印度、微軟及Amazon攜手破獲技術支援詐騙活動
印度當地詐騙組織5年來利用微軟與Amazon技術支援服務的名義，向受害者要求支付高昂的服務費用，或透過遠端存取方式在受害者電腦植入惡意程式，導致這二家科技大廠在美國、加拿大等6國超過2千名用戶受害
2023-10-20發表
印度的中央調查局（Central Bureau Investigation，CBI）、微軟與Amazon周四（10/19）宣布，它們已聯手破獲了位於印度的技術支援詐騙活動，此一被CBI命名為Chakra-II的掃盪行動涉及了5個案件，總計搜索了76個地點，扣押了許多的手機、電腦、伺服器、SIM卡、硬碟、電子郵件，也凍結了多個銀行帳戶。
根據CBI的說明，這些詐騙份子偽裝成全球IT大廠（微軟）與交易平臺（Amazon），於印度五個州經營多個客服中心，宣稱自己是這兩大品牌的技術支援人員，且時間長達5年。他們可能透過網頁上跳出的訊息來謊稱受害者的系統有問題，並提供免付費電話，在受害者主動聯繫之後，他們就會要求自遠端存取受害者電腦以協助檢查，再宣稱系統的確有問題，進而要求受害者支付高昂的服務費用，或是於系統上真的植入惡意程式、勒索軟體，甚至是竊取受害者的金融資訊。
雖然這些詐騙的客服中心設在印度，但受害者卻主要位於美國，另也有加拿大、德國、澳洲、西班牙及英國的微軟及Amazon用戶受害，受害人數超過2,000人。根據美國聯邦調查局（FBI）的統計，2022年因技術支援詐騙而損失的金額超過10億美元。
微軟與Amazon針對相關詐騙案件在美國與印度提出了聯合訴訟，而這也是這兩家公司的首度合作。微軟指出，技術支援詐騙是一個代價高昂且橫跨整個產業的問題，這些非法的客服中心每年都會危害數千名無辜的使用者。
其實技術支援詐騙存在已久，微軟也曾公布相關詐騙的手法，並提醒使用者不要輕易上當，強調微軟不會要求使用者提供金融資訊，系統上跳出錯誤訊息時不會含有電話號碼，也不會要求使用者以加密貨幣或禮物卡來支付技術支援費用，以及自第三方網站下載軟體時應特別小心。
Amazon, Microsoft, and India crack down on tech support scams
Call center operators use pop-ups, malware, and cold calls to get people to pay for PC ‘fixes’ they don’t really need.
Oct 20, 2023, 3:39 AM GMT+8
Amazon, Microsoft, and India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the country’s federal enforcement agency, have announced a major crackdown on tech support fraud.
The CBI’s post details two instances where scammers pretended they were customer support agents for two “well-known multi-national companies” (Amazon and Microsoft) through pop-ups that “falsely appeared to be security alerts” from the companies.
Through their scheme, the scammers would get people to call a toll-free number to one of their call centers, take over a user’s computer remotely, convince users of the “pretense of non-existing problems,” and “make them pay hundreds of Dollars for unnecessary services” while impersonating as workers for Amazon and Microsoft.
Microsoft has a website detailing the popular versions of these scams, how to identify them, and steps on what to do if you believe you’ve been affected.
As part of the crackdown, “the CBI conducted intensive searches in five separate cases at 76 locations across multiple states,” the CBI wrote. “In the wake of Operation Chakra-II, 32 mobile phones, 48 laptops / hard disks, images of two servers, 33 SIM cards, and pen drives were confiscated and numerous bank accounts were freezed. CBI also seized a dump of 15 email accounts, illuminating the intricate web of deceit spun by the accused.”
“The illegal call centers impacted more than 2,000 Amazon and Microsoft customers primarily based in the US, but also in Australia, Canada, Germany, Spain, and the UK,” Amazon says in a blog post.
“This collaboration marks the first time Microsoft and Amazon have joined forces to combat tech support fraud,” Microsoft’s Amy Hogan-Burney writes in a blog post. “We firmly believe that partnerships like these are not only necessary but pivotal in creating a safer online ecosystem and in extending our protective reach to a larger number of individuals.”
Amazon has also poured extensive resources into combating counterfeit products on its store, announcing the Counterfeit Crimes Unit in 2020 to help lead the charge. And Microsoft fights online crime through its work with its Digital Crimes Unit.
CBI launches Operation Chakra-II: What it is and why Microsoft and Amazon are part of this
Oct 20, 2023, 15:55 IST
India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has launched Operation Chakra-II, a crackdown on transnational organised cyber-enabled financial crimes. The CBI is partnering with Microsoft and Amazon, as well as national and international agencies, to combat and dismantle illegal call centre infrastructure. The CBI conducted searches in multiple states, confiscating mobile phones, laptops, SIM cards, and freezing bank accounts.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has launched Operation Chakra-II to fight against transnational organised cyber-enabled financial crimes in India. For this, India’s federal agency has partnered with Microsoft and Amazon as well as with national and international agencies to combat and dismantle infrastructure of illegal call centres.
CBI said that during a nationwide crackdown, it conducted searches in five separate cases at 76 locations across multiple states, including Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Haryana, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Bihar, Delhi, West Bengal and Himachal Pradesh.
“In the wake of Operation Chakra-II, 32 mobile phones, 48 laptops/hard disks, images of two servers, 33 SIM cards, and pen drives were confiscated and numerous bank accounts were freezed. CBI also seized a dump of 15 email accounts, illuminating the intricate web of deceit spun by the accused,” the CBI said.
The CBI is working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the USA, Cyber Crime Directorate and IFCACC of INTERPOL, the National Crime Agency (NCA) in the UK, Singapore Police Force and BKA of Germany to notify further leads.
Under Operation Chakra, launched last year, the CBI conducted raids over 100 locations against cyber criminals involved in financial crimes.
Why Microsoft and Amazon are part of Operation Chakra-II
In these scams, commonly known as tech support fraud, criminals establish and operate illegal call centres, and prey on the vulnerable and defraud thousands of victims each year. The illegal call centres raided by CBI were set up to impersonate Microsoft and Amazon customer support.
According to the companies, the cybercriminals have targeted over 2,000 customers based in the US, Canada, Germany, Australia, Spain, and the UK.
“We understand, however, that criminals will attempt to rebuild their operations and establish new illegal call centres. That is why we, in collaboration with the CBI, Amazon, and other international law enforcement agencies, are dedicated to maintaining our vigilance, sharing critical information and working closely with Indian law enforcement agencies and authorities from the victim countries to support their investigations,” Microsoft said.
Additionally, this is the first time that Microsoft and Amazon have joined forces to combat tech support fraud.
“We are pleased to join forces with Microsoft, and we believe actionable partnerships like these are critical in helping protect consumers from impersonation scams,” said Kathy Sheehan, vice president and associate general counsel, Business Conduct & Ethics.
How to safeguard
While Amazon and Microsoft will be working closely on the tech part to mitigate threats online, users should be aware of such ‘tech support’ calls.
Microsoft says that it never sends unsolicited email messages or makes unsolicited phone calls to request personal or financial information, or to provide technical support to fix computers.
“Any communication with Microsoft must be initiated by you. Always treat all unsolicited messages with scepticism and do not provide any personal information,” it said, adding that if you have been contacted by someone claiming to be from, or associated with, Microsoft, report the incident to Microsoft.
Meanwhile, Amazon said that customers can view order and communication history directly on Amazon by logging into their accounts and checking the Message Center.
Amazon never asks to make a payment or bank transfer on another website. It only asks for making payments in the mobile app, on the website, or in physical stores.
2023.8.17 A man travelled all the way to Bhubaneshwar to buy a ‘magical mirror’ that shows naked reflection of people and predicts the future.
In a bizarre incident, a 72-year-old man fell victim to a scam and lost Rs 9 lakh. The incident happened when the victim, identified as Avinash Kumar Shukla met three men from West Bengal. These men lured him by claiming that there is a ‘magic mirror’ that can predict the future and it shows people naked. All three accused have now been arrested from Odisha, as per reports.
一名男子千里迢迢来到布巴内斯瓦尔购买一面“魔镜”，它可以显示人们的裸体并预测未来。接下来发生的事情如下。
在一次离奇事件中，一名 72 岁的男子成为骗局的受害者，损失了 90 万卢比。事件发生时，受害者阿维纳什·库马尔·舒克拉 (Avinash Kumar Shukla) 遇到了三名来自西孟加拉邦的男子。这些人声称有一面“魔镜”可以预测未来，并且可以显示人们的裸体，从而引诱他。据报道，所有三名被告现已从奥里萨邦被捕。
警方查获了许多昂贵的物品，包括一辆汽车、28,000卢比现金、五部手机，其中包含展示“魔镜”神秘力量的视频，以及一系列可疑的协议文件。
舒克拉因一位共同熟人的参与而成为该骗局的受害者。受害者被告知，这面神奇的镜子甚至被美国宇航局的科学家使用，价值 2 千万卢比。
然后，诈骗者以某种方式说服舒克拉前往布巴内斯瓦尔，当时舒克拉已经支付了 90 万卢比。到达目的地后，舒克拉意识到了骗局，并要求退还钱。
纳亚帕利警察局负责人比斯瓦兰詹·萨胡 (Biswaranjan Sahoo) 督察表示：“舒克拉已经缴纳了 90 万卢比的巨款，他在酒店会议期间意识到了这一背信弃义的阴谋。”
UP man pays Rs 9 lakh for ‘magic mirror’ to see people naked, what happened next will blow you mind
A man travelled all the way to Bhubaneshwar to buy a ‘magical mirror’ that shows naked reflection of people and predicts the future. Here is what happened next.
Updated: Aug 17, 2023, 09:41 PM IST
In a bizarre incident, a 72-year-old man fell victim to a scam and lost Rs 9 lakh. The incident happened when the victim, identified as Avinash Kumar Shukla met three men from West Bengal. These men lured him by claiming that there is a ‘magic mirror’ that can predict the future and it shows people naked. All three accused have now been arrested from Odisha, as per reports.
The police seized many expensive things including a car, Rs 28,000 in cash, five mobile phones containing videos that showcased the mystical powers of the ‘magic mirror,’ and a collection of dubious agreement papers.
Shukla fell victim to the scam through the involvement of a mutual acquaintance in the scheme. The victim was told that this magical mirror is even used by NASA scientists and it costs Rs 2 crore.
The fraudsters were then able to somehow, convince Shukla to travel to Bhubaneshwar by that time, Shukla had already paid Rs 9 Lakhs. On reaching the destination, Shukla realised of the scam and asked for his money back.
Inspector Biswaranjan Sahoo, in-charge of the Nayapalli police station, said, “Having already parted with a hefty sum amounting to Rs 9 lakh, Shukla’s realization of the perfidious plot unfolded during the meeting at the hotel.”
जादूचा आरसा, यात लोक नग्न दिसणार! खरेदीसाठी आजोबा १२०० किमी दूर गेले, ९ लाख मोजले अन् मग..
Updated: 19 Aug 2023, 8:02 am
आम्ही सिंगापूरच्या कंपनीत काम करतो. आमच्याकडे अनेक पुरातनवस्तू आहेत. नासाच्या शास्त्रज्ञांनी वापरलेला जादूचा आरसा आहे, अशी बतावणी करत वृद्धाला ९ लाखांचा गंडा घालण्यात आला.
लखनऊ: कानपूरमधील वृद्धाची फसवणूक करणाऱ्या तिघांना पश्चिम बंगालमधून अटक करण्यात आली आहे. ७२ वर्षांच्या अविनाश कुमार शुक्ला यांना तिघांनी ९ लाख रुपयांना जादूचा आरसा विकला. या आरशात लोकांना नग्न दाखवण्याची, त्यांचं भविष्य सांगण्याची जादू असल्याची बतावणी तिघांनी केली होती.
उत्तर प्रदेशच्या कानपूरमध्ये राहणाऱ्या अविनाश कुमार यांना आरोपींनी भुवनेश्वरला बोलावून गंडा घातला. वृद्धानं भुवनेश्वरच्या नयापल्ली पोलीस ठाण्यात तक्रार नोंदवली. त्यानंतर पोलिसांनी तिघांना अटक केली. त्यांच्याकडे अनेक आक्षेपार्ह वस्तू सापडल्या आहेत. जादूई आरशाची वैशिष्ट्यं सांगणारा व्हिडीओदेखील त्यांच्याकडे सापडला आहे. याच व्हिडीओच्या आधारे आरोपी लोकांना गंडा घालायचे.
अविनाश कुमार त्यांच्या ओळखीच्या व्यक्तीच्या माध्यमातून जादुई आरशाच्या दावा करणाऱ्यांच्या संपर्कात आले. बंगालचे रहिवासी असलेल्या पार्थ सिंघराय, मलय सरकार आणि सुदीप्त सिन्हा राय यांनी जादुई आरसाचा दावा करत अविनाश यांना गंडवलं. त्यांच्या जाळ्यात अविनाश अगदी अलगद अडकले. तिघांनी व्हिडीओच्या माध्यमातून अविनाश यांना आरशाची वैशिष्ट्ये सांगितली. या आरशाच्या माध्यमातून लोकांना नग्न पाहू शकतो, असं तिघांनी अविनाश यांना सांगितलं होतं.
आरसा विकणाऱ्यांनी आपण सिंगापूरच्या एका कंपनीत कार्यरत असल्याचं सांगितलं. आमच्या कंपनीकडे पुरातनवस्तूंचा संग्रह आहे. आमच्याकडे जादूचा आरसा आहे. त्याची मूळ किंमत २ कोटी रुपये आहे. त्याचा वापर नासाच्या शास्त्रज्ञांनी केला होता. अविनाश यांनी विश्वास ठेवला आणि आरसा घेण्यासाठी भुवनेश्वरला पोहोचले. भुवनेश्वरच्या एका हॉटेलात अविनाश यांची मुलाखत आरसा विकायला आलेल्या तिघांशी झाली. आपली फसवणूक झाल्याचं लक्षात येईपर्यंत त्यांच्या हातून ९ लाख रुपये गेले होते. त्यांनी पोलीस ठाण्यात फिर्याद दिली. पोलिसांनी तातडीनं चक्रं फिरवली आणि तिघांना बेड्या ठोकल्या.
नयापुल्ली पोलीस ठाण्याचे प्रभारी निरीक्षक विश्वरंजन साहू यांनी दिलेल्या माहितीनुसार, तीन आरोपींनी अविनाश यांना हॉटेलमध्ये बोलावलं. त्यांनी तक्रारदाराकडून ९ लाख घेतले. त्यावेळी अविनाश यांना शंका आली. मात्र आरोपी पैसे घेऊन फरार झाले. त्यांच्याकडून अनेक वस्तू जप्त करण्यात आल्या आहेत. त्यात एक कार, २८ हजारांची रोख, ५ मोबाईल, मॅजिक मिररची वैशिष्ट्यं दाखवणारा व्हिडीओ आणि संशयास्पद कागदपत्रांचा समावेश आहे.
砸5万买“魔镜”想看裸体 72岁老翁面交才知被骗
2023年08月21日
印度一名老翁听信一伙骗徒声称所出售的一面“魔镜”具有超自然力量，结果被骗走了90万卢比。
（新德里21日讯）印度北方州一名72岁老翁兴致勃勃地购入一面“魔镜”，以为可以“从中看见男女裸体，甚至预测未来”。
《印度时报》报道，直到受害者舒克拉远赴东南部的奥里萨州面交，才惊觉自己被诈骗了，但他当时早已支付90万卢比（下同，约5万令吉）货款，所幸3名骗徒都已于16日被警方逮捕。
据报道，舒克拉透过友人联系上骗徒，对方假扮一名“新加坡古董公司职员”，宣称这面“魔镜”具有超自然力量，原本价值高达2000万卢比，但愿意用90万卢比售出。
舒克拉起初抱持怀疑态度，但骗徒提供许多虚假的买家使用心得，还宣称“就连美国太空总署的科学家都在使用”，才会误信“魔镜”功效，最终在酒店面交时，惊觉到自己受害。
警方证实，3名骗徒皆来自西孟加拉州，年龄介于32至46岁之间，16日被捕时，还遭查获一辆汽车、现金2.8万卢比、多份假文件及5部手机，里头包括介绍“魔镜”的相关影片。警方目前仍在查明还有多少无辜民众沦为受害者。
2023.7.26 15名被缅甸犯罪集团虚假工作邀请欺骗的印度公民被遣返(印度)
15 Indians Caught in Web of Crime Syndicates Repatriated from Myanmar; Tally of Rescued Reaches 379
15名被缅甸犯罪集团虚假工作邀请欺骗的印度公民被遣返
印度驻仰光大使馆感谢缅甸当局和其他联系人提供的协助。到目前为止，已有 379 名印度国民从缅甸获救，他们是跨国犯罪集团提供的工作机会的受害者。
他们在一系列推文中进一步补充道：“在我们继续努力确保剩余印度国民获释的同时，我们重申建议，防止成为跨国犯罪集团提供的工作机会的牺牲品。”
今年二月初，大使馆解救了九名印度国民，他们是跨国犯罪集团在缅甸提供的工作机会的受害者。
外交部警告印度公民在接受可疑的海外就业机会之前要进行反复检查，并对此类工作采取极其谨慎的态度。
据报道，这些印度人被非法带过边境，大部分进入缅甸，并被囚禁在恶劣的条件下工作。老挝和柬埔寨也有报道称印度人陷入类似的就业困境。印度驻万象、金边和曼谷大使馆正忙于从这些城市遣返公民。
15 Indian nationals duped by fake job offers from crime syndicates in Myanmar repatriated
Updated: Jul 26, 2023 17:42 IST
Naypyidaw [Myanmar], July 26 (ANI): Fifteen Indian nationals, who were victims of fake job offers by transnational crime syndicates in Myanmar, were repatriated on Wednesday, according to the Embassy of India in Yangon, Myanmar.
“@IndiainMyanmar today repatriated 15 more Indian nationals who were victims of job offers of transnational crime syndicates in Myanmar. They left Yangon for Delhi from where they would go to their respective native places in India,” tweeted India in Myanmar.
The Embassy of India in Yangon appreciated the assistance provided by the Myanmar authorities and other contacts. So far, 379 Indian nationals have been rescued from Myanmar who were victims of job offers from transnational crime syndicates.
“We appreciate the assistance provided by the Myanmar authorities and other contacts. So far 379 Indian nationals have been rescued. We are committed to secure the release of all Indian nationals. While we continue our efforts for securing release of the remaining Indian nationals, we reiterate advisories against falling prey to job offers by transnational crime syndicates,” the tweet added.
Earlier, on March 16, eight Indian nationals, who were victims of fake job offers by transnational crime syndicates in Myanmar, were repatriated.
Notably, instances of similar job rackets have also come to light in Laos and Cambodia. The Indian Embassies in Vientiane, Phnom Penh and Bangkok have been helping in repatriating people from there.
The victims were reportedly taken across the border illegally mostly into Myanmar and held captive to work under harsh conditions. (ANI)
15 Indians Caught in Web of Crime Syndicates Repatriated from Myanmar; Tally of Rescued Reaches 379
Last Updated: JULY 26, 2023, 15:53 IST – Myanmar (Burma)
The Indian embassy in Myanmar on Wednesday repatriated 15 more Indians who were being used as ‘slaves’ after they were duped into accepting job offers from transnational crime syndicates in Myanmar.
The embassy in Myanmar said that these individuals have left Yangon for Delhi and upon reaching Myanmar they would go to their respective native places.
“The Indian embassy in Myanmar today repatriated 15 more Indian nationals who were victims of job offers of transnational crime syndicates in Myanmar. They left Yangon for Delhi from where they would go to their respective native places in India,” the Indian Embassy in Myanmar said in a tweet.
The embassy further added that so far 379 Indians have been rescued. The authorities also thanked the Myanmarese authorities for their assistance. “We appreciate the assistance provided by the Myanmar authorities and other contacts. So far 379 Indian nationals have been rescued. We are committed to secure the release of all Indian nationals,” the Indian Embassy in Myanmar said.
“While we continue our efforts for securing release of the remaining Indian nationals, we reiterate advisories against falling prey to job offers by transnational crime syndicates,” they further added in a series of tweets.
The embassy earlier this February rescued nine Indian nationals, who were victims of job offers by transnational crime syndicates in Myanmar.
The external affairs ministry has warned Indian citizens to cross-check before accepting dubious employment offers overseas and apply extreme caution against such jobs.
These Indians were reportedly taken across the border illegally mostly into Myanmar and held captive to work under harsh conditions. Reports of Indians being trapped in similar job rackets have also come to light in Laos and Cambodia. The Indian Embassies in Vientiane, Phnom Penh and Bangkok were engaged in repatriating citizens from these cities.
Chinese syndicates and threat actors are committing cybercrimes by setting up bases in neighbouring countries. They have indulged in theft of personal information, cross-border gambling, e-commerce scams, romance scams and advanced persistent threat (APT).
A previous report by News18 highlighted that due to tightening of laws in China against gambling, money laundering, pornography, and other cyber-related issues, bad actors are using neighbouring Myanmar, Cambodia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand to commit these crimes.
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