Bhubaneswar: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Bhubaneswar has made a significant breakthrough in its investigation into a pan-India courier fraud scam, culminating in the arrest of a key perpetrator identified as Rajat Kumar, hailing from Mohalia in Haryana’s Yamuna Nagar district. Rajat was apprehended from Paonta Sahib in Himachal Pradesh’s Sirmur district on February 4 in connection with a complex network of fraudulent activities targeting unsuspecting individuals across the country.
The arrest of Rajat comes in response to a complaint filed by Ratna Tripathy of Nayapalli, Bhubaneswar, shedding light on the modus operandi of the elaborate scam. Tripathy recounted receiving a VoIP call last June from an individual claiming to be an employee of FedEx, Hyderabad, who alleged that a parcel containing incriminating items, including narcotics, had been intercepted by NCB Mumbai officials and sent to her address. Under the guise of clearing her name of criminal charges, Tripathy was coerced into transferring a significant sum of money to purportedly verify her innocence.
The scam, orchestrated through a sophisticated web of deception, involved impersonating officials from various law enforcement agencies, including NCB, CBI, and RBI, to intimidate victims into compliance. The use of fake identity cards and certificates lent credibility to the fraudsters’ claims, leaving victims vulnerable to manipulation and exploitation.
EOW’s investigation into the matter revealed the extensive reach of the scam, with hundreds of individuals across the country falling prey to similar tactics. The scammers, operating under false pretenses, managed to extort a staggering sum of Rs 5.58 crore from multiple victims through fraudulent transactions routed through mule accounts, ultimately leading to withdrawals in Dubai, UAE.
Rajat Kumar’s arrest has provided crucial leads in unraveling the intricate network behind the scam, including identifying the masterminds orchestrating operations from Dubai. Efforts are underway to apprehend the remaining perpetrators, with 17 incriminating bank accounts already frozen as part of the ongoing investigation.
The EOW’s swift action underscores its commitment to combating financial crimes and protecting the interests of the public against fraudulent schemes. As the investigation progresses, authorities remain vigilant in dismantling criminal networks and holding accountable those responsible for preying on innocent individuals through deceitful means.
