Who is the Cyber Criminal Behind the ₹16 Lakh Fraud in Odisha?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Understanding Cyber Fraud: Awareness is crucial to prevent falling victim to similar schemes.
- Importance of Reporting: Prompt reporting of suspicious activities can help law enforcement take action.
- Investment Caution: Always verify the credibility of investment opportunities before committing funds.
- Community Vigilance: Engage with local communities to share knowledge about potential scams.
- Legal Actions: Authorities are actively pursuing justice for victims of cybercrime.
Bhubaneswar, Sep 1 (NationPress) Odisha Police has apprehended a cyber criminal from Balasore for deceiving numerous victims out of ₹16 lakh by offering unrealistic returns on investments via a software application, as reported by a senior police official on Monday.
The suspect, identified as Partha Sarathi Das, aged 64, resides in the Chandipur locality of Balasore district. He was taken into custody in relation to case number (62/25) filed at the Cyber Crime and Economic Offence Police Station in Cuttack, following a complaint submitted by Mirza Adil Beg, 45, from the Dargha Bazar area of Cuttack on August 28.
In his complaint, Beg claimed that for the past two months, a mobile application called 'Huge App' had been functioning in the app market. The office for this app was situated opposite a school at Badambadi in the L.I.C. Colony. Partha Sarathi Das was identified as the promoter of this establishment.
Beg further mentioned that approximately 200 local residents had registered on this app by paying a registration fee of ₹16,500 each, culminating in a total fraud of around ₹16 lakh.
The company promised investors lucrative returns in exchange for giving five-star ratings to videos on the app, along with commissions for recruiting additional members.
Initially, several individuals received substantial returns, which motivated others to join the scheme.
On August 15, members were meant to receive their payouts, but were informed that they needed to deposit an extra ₹4,950 for Annual Maintenance Charges.
Consequently, many people deposited this amount via the app. However, on August 19, the app abruptly ceased operation. Despite numerous attempts, no results materialized, leading to the realization that the app had swindled many.
This left numerous disadvantaged residents of Cuttack without their hard-earned savings. Utilizing data from financial institutions and telecom authorities, the Cyber Police team in Cuttack tracked down the accused Das, who was subsequently arrested by law enforcement in Balasore.
A senior police official disclosed that the Cuttack police would seek court approval to place Das in remand for further investigation into the case.