Two individuals have been apprehended in Meerut for allegedly posing as employees of a bank and defrauding several people across multiple states. The police identified the suspects as Shivansh Kumar Sharma from Ghaziabad and Arjun Tank, a resident of Delhi. Their modus operandi involved contacting credit card holders and presenting themselves as bank representatives, claiming they could help increase credit limits and provide other appealing offers.

How the Fraud Was Executed

During the police inquiry, it was revealed that the accused skillfully acquired personal data of credit card holders and reached out to them via phone calls. After establishing contact, they would claim to work for a bank, assuring victims that they could enhance their credit card limits. Once potential victims showed interest, the accused sent a link through WhatsApp, asking them to input sensitive banking and credit card information.

After entering their details, victims inadvertently disclosed their one-time passwords (OTPs) as well. This lapse allowed the suspects to utilise the credit cards for various online transactions, resulting in significant financial loss for the victims. Police investigations indicated that the two men would travel in a Baleno car to various locations to disguise their presence while they engaged in these fraudulent cyber activities.

The police have reported a total of 14 complaints against the pair, spanning several states, including Bihar, Telangana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, and Maharashtra. Among these, twelve complaints were associated with Sharma, while two were linked to Tank.

Discovery and Evidence Collected

Following the arrest of Sharma and Tank, authorities recovered several items from their possession. This included ten mobile phones, four debit cards, two NCMC prepaid cards, and the Baleno vehicle they were using for their operations. The police are currently investigating additional complaints and working to ascertain the total amount of money that was fraudulently acquired.

According to estimates provided by the police, the cumulative losses suffered by victims due to this fraud may amount to approximately Rs 20 lakh. Law enforcement agencies are diligently tracing the money trail to gather more information related to the suspected criminal activities of the accused.

The police have formally filed a case against both individuals and are preparing to present them before the court in accordance with judicial procedures. This case highlights the ongoing challenges faced by authorities in combating cyber fraud and the importance of vigilance among consumers regarding their financial information.

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