BENGALURU: A juvenile from Rajasthan was apprehended for allegedly impersonating a Bengaluru IPS officer on Facebook and using a fake account to befriend his acquaintances and members of the public before collecting money from them on various pretexts, police said on Wednesday.The juvenile allegedly created a fake Facebook account using the name and photograph of IPS officer Narayana M, who is posted as Deputy Commissioner of Police of Bengaluru’s Electronic City division.Police recovered Rs 2 lakh in cash from the juvenile, which they said was allegedly part of the money fraudulently obtained through fake bank accounts.
Fake IPS account used to target contacts
The case came to light after a complaint was registered at Hebbagodi police station over the creation of the fake Facebook account using the officer’s photograph.According to police, the juvenile sent friend requests from the fake account to the officer’s acquaintances and other members of the public and later asked them for money on different pretexts.During the investigation, police conducted enquiries from several angles and uncovered an organised network allegedly operating from Kota Khurd village in Rajasthan, a senior police officer said.On August 24, police issued a notice to the juvenile’s parents and took him into custody for questioning.“During interrogation, he disclosed that he had committed the offence along with a few associates. He revealed that they had created fake Facebook accounts in the names of several IAS and IPS officers across the country and were collecting money by impersonating them,” the officer said.
‘CRPF commandant transferred’: How victims were duped
Investigators found that the fraudsters allegedly used another pretext to collect money from victims.The fake accounts were used to claim that a friend of theirs was a CRPF commandant who had been transferred and was therefore selling furniture and household articles at low prices, police said.“By inducing people to believe these claims and pay for the articles, they collected money and cheated them,” he added.Police suspect several other people are involved in the network and said efforts are underway to trace them. .
Juvenile sent to rehabilitation centre
On August 25, the juvenile was sent to a rehabilitation centre in Devanahalli.Police have advised the public to remain alert to cyber fraudsters who create fake social media accounts in the names of IAS and IPS officers, send friend requests and later seek money.People receiving requests for money from fake accounts created in the name of individuals or officials have been advised to immediately report the matter to the concerned police station and exercise caution.(With PTI inputs)
