Telangana cyber fraud: Man held for cheating 140 people of Rs 5.3 crore

Hyderabad: A 22-year-old man from Rajasthan has been arrested by Adilabad district police in Telangana for allegedly defrauding people through a social media platform by posing as a supplier of mobile spare parts and accessories, police said on Wednesday.

The accused, identified as Prakash Kumar from Jalore district of Rajasthan, runs a mobile shop business. He was arrested in connection with a case involving the alleged cheating of a mobile shop owner from Ichoda mandal in Adilabad district.

During the probe, police found that Kumar had allegedly targeted around 140 people in 19 states, causing financial losses of more than Rs 5.30 crore, Adilabad District Superintendent of Police Akhil Mahajan said in a release.

Police seized two mobile phones and Rs 1 lakh in cash from his possession.

According to police, the complainant had searched for mobile chargers, displays and other accessories for his shop on a social media platform in July. He came across an account advertising such products and contacted the person operating it.

The person allegedly claimed to be a supplier of mobile spare parts and accessories and assured the complainant that the goods would be sent through courier after payment was made online.

Trusting the claim, the complainant made several online payments between July 25 and August 8, transferring a total of Rs 2.18 lakh, police said.

The accused later allegedly shared a courier receipt through an instant messaging application and told the complainant that the parcel had been dispatched.

However, when the complainant was asked to collect the package from a courier office on August 22, he could not find the parcel in Ichoda or Adilabad.

After realising that he had allegedly been duped, the complainant contacted the Cyber Crime Helpline 1930 and filed a complaint.

Ichoda Police subsequently registered a case and launched an investigation. Using technical evidence and cyber investigation methods, police traced the accused and arrested him, the release said.

Further investigation is underway.

The SP advised the public not to make advance payments to unknown persons offering mobile spare parts, accessories or other products at unusually low prices through social media platforms.