Odisha Police's Crime Branch Detains Woman Cyber Fraudster in ₹87 Lakh Investment Scam
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Synopsis
The Odisha Police's Crime Branch has arrested Vandana Bawa, a woman cybercriminal from Delhi, involved in an ₹87 lakh investment fraud. The investigation has uncovered multiple fraudulent activities and the police are tracing additional accomplices.
Key Takeaways
- Arrest of Vandana Bawa in ₹87 lakh fraud
- Victim misled through WhatsApp group
- Fraudsters used fake stock trading apps
- Police seized incriminating items
- Investigation continues for accomplices
Bhubaneswar, March 6 (NationPress) The Crime Branch of the Odisha Police has taken into custody a female cybercriminal from Delhi for her involvement in an investment fraud totaling ₹87 lakh, as confirmed by a senior police official on Thursday.
The suspect, identified as Vandana Bawa, resides in South Delhi.
She was apprehended on Tuesday and is currently being transported to Odisha under transit remand, following the approval from a local court in Saket, New Delhi.
According to sources within the crime branch, the victim—a private sector employee living in Sailashree Vihar, Bhubaneswar—was added to an unfamiliar WhatsApp group titled "101 Stock Discussion Group," allegedly run by a fraudster posing as a professor.
“The con artists, claiming to offer stock trading advice, IPO insights, and investment strategies, manipulated the victim into signing up on two shared web links,” an official added.
The fraudsters subsequently convinced the victim to invest in stock trading via fake applications they had designed.
Under the impression that this was a genuine investment opportunity, the victim transferred approximately ₹87 lakh into various accounts belonging to the fraudsters at IndusInd Bank, PNB, and other banks through multiple transactions.
“The investigative team, led by Additional SP Ritesh Kumar Mohapatra, analyzed transaction details and digital evidence, conducted a field operation in New Delhi, and successfully identified and apprehended the perpetrator,” stated a crime official.
The Odisha police team has confiscated several incriminating items, including a mobile phone, two Indian SIM cards, an Aadhaar card, and a PAN card.
Moreover, several bank accounts linked to the fraudsters have been frozen, resulting in a reimbursement of ₹10 lakh to the complainant.
“From the NCRP Samanvaya portal, it was determined that the accused's account is also implicated in two additional cyber incidents in Kerala and Gujarat,” the senior police officer added.
The Crime Branch is expanding its investigation to uncover additional accomplices involved in the investment fraud, as well as tracing the nationwide implications and money trail associated with the case.
