Bhubaneswar: The Crime Branch (CB) of Odisha Police on Tuesday arrested a man on charges of cheating a prospective buyer of ₹3.80 lakh in a Facebook Marketplace vehicle fraud case.
The accused has been identified as Suvendra Rout alias Rinku.
According to the police, the accused contacted the complainant through Facebook Marketplace, posing as an recovery agent dealing in finance-defaulted vehicles. They induced him to buy a Hyundai i20 and collected the full amount of ₹3,80,000 through digital payments and bank transfers. After receiving the money, they failed to deliver the vehicle and became unreachable.
Following a complaint, the Crime Branch registered a case on August 10, 2026, under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 66-C and 66-D of the Information Technology Act, 2000. Subsequent verification revealed that the vehicle remained at the stockyard and was never sold. Analysis of digital and financial evidence helped the investigating team identify and arrest Rout. Further investigation is underway to track the money trail and identify other individuals involved in the scam.
The Odisha Crime Branch has urged the public to remain cautious while buying vehicles through Facebook Marketplace or other social media platforms. “”Prospective buyers should verify the seller, vehicle documents and ownership before making any payment. Victims of cyber fraud are advised to report the matter immediately to the National Cyber Crime Helpline 1930 or lodge a complaint at www.cybercrime.gov.in,” it added.
