Mumbai: A A routine patrolling round at Versova led the police to a cyber scammer from Madhya Pradesh who was allegedly recruiting money mules to use their bank accounts for money acquired through cyber crime. The accused, Omprakash Singh Thakur (21), is a grocer from Madhya Pradesh, the police said.
On May 1, the police’s Nirbhaya Squad was patrolling near Four Bungalows four men in a huddle were spotted. As soon the men noticed the police vehicle, they started to run. The police team chased and caught one of them trying to scale a wall. The other three fled.
The captured man, later identified as Thakur, on interrogation said he was a cyber scammer and was chatting up potential money mules, the police claimed.
Four months ago, Thakur was contacted on Telegram app by one John with an offer to make quick money. He told Thakur that he was in need of bank accounts to receive money got through cyber scams.
Thakur was asked to create a Telegram ID in a woman’s name. Next, Thakur was told that someone would reach out to him on this Telegram account with bank details and Sim cards. Thakur’s job was to screen these individuals, verify if bank details were genuine and pass on information to John. He was to arrange for hotel stays for such account holders, under fake identities. Thakur did as instructed.
Once defrauded sums were received in bank accounts of these individuals, John would have them withdrawn. Typically, the accounts were frozen by banks within a few days following police inquiries. Once accounts were frozen, Thakur was to let the account owners leave the hotel and go home.
“Thakur changed locations and has lived in hotels at Mira Road, Kurla and Versova,” a police officer said. “He claims John gave him many Sim cards with instructions that was to be used not more than twice.”
Gradually, Thakur himself got into cyber scamming. He was promised 10% commission for the scam and another 10% would go to the money mule.
Police have seized 12 debit cards, 11 Sim cards, three Aadhaar cards, three Pan cards, four phones, a cheque book, a driving licence and RC book for a two-wheeler.