Bhubaneswar: The Commissionerate Police have arrested a 25-year-old man from Uttar Pradesh for allegedly duping a Bhubaneswar-based businessman of over Rs 11 lakh by impersonating a sales executive of Jindal Steel Pvt Ltd.
The accused has been identified as Pradum Kumar from Bhojapur in Chandauli district of Uttar Pradesh. He was apprehended on June 9 from his village under Sakaldiha police limits. He was later produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Chandauli, and brought to Bhubaneswar on a transit remand.
According to a police release, Mahesh Kumar Singh lodged a complaint at the Cyber Crime and Economic Offences policesStation in Bhubaneswar on May 22, alleging that he was duped of Rs 11,25,300 while purchasing TMT steel for his construction business. He came across a toll-free number while searching for a vendor of Jindal Steel Pvt Ltd on internet. During the call, he was directed to a person who introduced himself as a sales executive of Jindal Steel Plant. The fraudsters provided proper Invoice and bank account details. Singh made two transactions -, Rs 1,25,300 via IMPS and Rs. 10,00,000 via NEFT/RTGS to the bank account of the accused.
However, the consignment was not delivered to him.
Subsequent investigation revealed that the bank account was in the name of Pradum Kumar. The investigating officer has also seized a mobile, which was used for commission of the offence.
The release further stated that the accused and his accomplices have been targeting people by impersonating executives of reputed companies like Jindal Steel. They contact potential victims with fake business proposals, send forged invoices using company branding, and convince them to transfer large sums of money to bank accounts controlled by the fraudsters.
The Commissionerate Police have advised the public not to transfer money to unknown accounts without verification. They urged people to verify bank details with the banks concerned and report any suspicious cyber activity at www.cybercrime.gov.in or by calling the national cybercrime helpline number 1930. For cyber-related assistance in Bhubaneswar, the local helpline is 7440006709.
