Three members of an inter-state gang have been arrested for cheating people by luring them with fake affirmation of winning lottery prizes worth Rs.1 crore, police said on Wednesday.
Furkan Khan and Imran Khan, both 25, and Mohd. Moin, 26, were arrested from Uttarakhand on September 16.
"They used to lure people through e-mail and mobile phone by fake affirmation of winning lotteries of Rs.1 crore," said Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Ravindra Yadav.
Yadav said the three also cheated a resident of west Delhi, Prasanna Ramesh, in October 2014 by using the same modus operandi.
"On realising that she has been cheated, Prasanna filed a complaint in July," Yadav said.
Police said Prasanna got a message on her mobile phone on October 2, 2014, informing her that her number has won a prize of one lakh pounds (Rs.1 crore approximately) in a lucky draw.
"Prasanna was asked to send her details to an e-mail ID. After sending her particulars, she got another mail asking her to deposit Rs.8.64 lakh as foreign currency conversion tax, if she wishes to receive the lottery amount.
"Meanwhile, she also received a few mobile calls from a caller who identified herself as a manager in the RBI and asked her to deposit Rs.8.64 lakh. The victim then deposited the amount in four ICICI bank accounts," he said.
Later, Prasanna learnt that these accounts were located in Delhi, Surat, and Uttarakhand and realised she was cheated, the official said.
Moin, who is working in ICICI Bank as a field officer at the Rudrapur branch in Uttarakhand, informed police that his friend Sadakat, the mastermind, contacted him to provide a bank account for transferring money from unknown sources.
Moin took help from his friend Imran who knew Furkan, who was also an account holder of ICICI Bank.
"As soon as the cheated amount was transferred in Furkan's account, it was shared among all the accused. The major part went to Sadakat. Raids are being conducted to nab Sadakat, who is absconding," the police official said.
