Varanasi: Ghazipur Cyber Crime Police busted an alleged fake call centre operating an online fraud racket through Facebook advertisements offering jobs abroad and arrested three persons on Thursday. Police seized Rs 3.54 lakh in cash, 10 mobile phones worth around Rs 5 lakh, 13 ATM cards, 23 SIM cards, computer equipment, a laptop, a printer and two four-wheelers worth around Rs 20 lakh.The arrested accused have been identified as Sohan Ram, 45, Surya Prakash Arora, 26, and Faizal Khan alias Sunny, 29, all residents of Ghazipur. The operation was led by inspector Mohd Rahmatullah Khan.According to police, a complainant approached the Ghazipur Cyber Crime Police Station alleging that unidentified persons had, on the pretext of vehicle breakdowns and other excuses, got money earned through cyber fraud transferred into his Common Service Centre (CSC) account. Nearly Rs 15 lakh was allegedly withdrawn in cash between Aug and Sept. Soon after, the complainant’s CSC account and other bank accounts were either frozen or marked under lien.Superintendent of Police Iraj Raja said police collected evidence and, with the help of the surveillance cell, arrested the three accused. He said they were operating in an organised and planned manner.Police said the main accused, Sohan Ram, allegedly procured SIM cards and mule bank accounts in Mumbai and Delhi using the identities of poor people, rickshaw pullers and roadside SIM sellers by paying them Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500.He then allegedly sent the SIM cards by courier to his son, Surya Prakash Arora, in Ghazipur, who operated the cyber fraud network.After receiving the SIM cards, Surya allegedly informed Sohan, who ran attractive advertisements on Facebook and other social media platforms promising jobs abroad. The mobile numbers mentioned in the advertisements were the same numbers sent to Surya.Police said calls made to the advertised numbers were received at the fake call centre allegedly run by Surya. Some women had been hired at the centre after being misled about the nature of the work. They received calls from victims, while Surya allegedly lured job seekers with false promises and sent them mule account details and QR codes provided by Sohan.The accused allegedly collected Rs 5,000 from victims in the name of registration, along with their biodata and passport details. Later, forged job offer letters were sent to the victims and more money was demanded.Sohan also allegedly arranged dummy flight tickets to gain the victims’ trust before collecting larger sums in mule accounts.Police said the fraud money was routed through CSC centres using QR codes and withdrawn in cash or through ATMs by Surya Prakash Arora. Faizal Khan was also allegedly used to withdraw money in exchange for a commission.Police are examining the recovered SIM cards and documents to ascertain how many people were cheated. A report will also be sent to the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre under the Ministry of Home Affairs.Police advised citizens not to trust attractive job advertisements on social media or send money without physical verification. Victims of cyber fraud have been advised to immediately call 1930 or file a complaint at www.cybercrime.gov.in.
