{“_id”:”6738c30e8299911f040b9e40″,”slug”:”cyber-crime-bihar-gang-selling-bank-accounts-to-cyber-fraudsters-caught-sold-1800-bank-accounts-2024-11-16″ “,”type”:”story”,”status”:”publish”,”title_hn”:”Cyber Crime: Bihar gang selling bank accounts to cyber fraudsters caught, sold 1800 bank accounts across the country”,”category”: {“title”:”City & states”,”title_hn”:”City & States”,”slug”:”city-and-states”}}
Bhopal Police Commissioner Mishra disclosed the matter.
– Photo: Amar Ujala
Expansion
Hanumanganj police of the capital busted a call center related to cyber fraud and arrested a total seven-member gang including 6 youths and 1 woman. This gang from Bihar has opened hundreds of bank accounts by purchasing thousands of SIM cards using fake Aadhaar cards. Documents recovered from the Bhopal hideouts of the fraudsters have revealed the purchase of 400 bank accounts and 1800 SIMs. This gang used to sell fake bank accounts to cyber fraudsters for Rs 10,000.
This gang from Bihar has sold about 1800 bank accounts opened with fake documents to fraudsters across the country. Preliminary inquiry has revealed that before Bhopal, this gang had carried out similar incidents in many big cities of the country. Hundreds of fake Aadhar cards, ATM cards, PAN cards, SIM cards, 20 mobile phones, 2 printers, 1 laptop, 1 PAN drive and copies of 8 account books have been seized from the possession of the accused. The role of bank employees and postmen of the postal department is also being investigated in this case.
Police Commissioner Harinarayanachari Mishra said that Hanumanganj police received information that for the last three-four days a young man and a young woman were visiting mobile shops and purchasing SIM cards on different Aadhaar cards. The address on the Aadhaar card used to purchase a SIM card is different, but the photo remains the same. When the police team investigated the seriousness of the matter, the complaint was found to be true. On this, the police registered a case under various sections including fraud and started investigating the matter.
7 member gang caught from flat
During investigation, police raided the flat in Ibrahimganj and found 6 young men and 1 girl there. On interrogation, they revealed their names as Shashikant alias Manish, Sapna alias Sadhna Paan, Ankit Kumar Sahu alias Sunil, Kaushal Mali alias Pankaj, Roshan Kumar, Ranjan Kumar alias Vinod, and Mohammad Titu alias Vijay. All of them are residents of Bihar. A large quantity of fake Aadhaar cards, PAN cards, SIM cards, bank passbooks, mobile phones, laptops, printers and copies used in crimes have been seized from their possession.
This is how they used to commit crimes
Accused Shashikant used to collect Aadhaar card data from Jharkhand. After that he used to check which Aadhar card is not linked to PAN card. He used to get the PAN card made for the Aadhar card with which the PAN card was not linked. After that, with the help of laptop and Photoshop, he used to paste the photos of his friends on the Aadhar card and take out a copy of the Aadhar card from the color printer. With the help of this Aadhar card he used to buy mobile SIM. With the help of this Aadhar card and mobile SIM, he used to open accounts in banks. He used to give Rs 2,000 to the partner who opened the account and later sold the said account to cyber fraudsters for Rs 10,000.
Used to leave the city after three months, used to cheat even in the name of getting loan
This gang used to stay in one city only for a maximum of three to four months. After purchasing SIM cards and opening accounts, he used to leave the city. The leader of the gang used to change even those who worked with him. Till now, this gang has carried out such incidents in many metros and cities of the country including Mumbai, Lucknow, Indore, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad.
400 accounts exposed so far
Preliminary investigation by the police has revealed that the gang has so far purchased around 1800 mobile SIMs, which have been used to open fake bank accounts. Till now, the police has come to know about 400 bank accounts opened in Indore city. Information about accounts opened in other cities is being obtained. The gang leader used those accounts which he did not sell to cyber fraudsters, for cheating by pretending to get loans.
Investigation into the role of bank workers and postmen
Police Commissioner Mishra said that the original Aadhaar cards used by the accused to purchase SIM cards were obtained. These were those Aadhaar cards which could not be delivered due to some reason, hence the role of postmen will be investigated. Similarly, various procedures are followed while opening a bank account. In this, where the bank employees committed any mistake, it will be investigated. The owner of the flat from where the accused were arrested will be interrogated regarding the issue of giving information about the tenants.