Fake cricket betting: 2 held for duping Jajpur bizman of Rs 1.08cr | Bhubaneswar News
Bhubaneswar: Crime branch on Wednesday arrested two cyber fraudsters for allegedly swindling a businessman from Jajpur district of Rs 1.08 crore through fake online cricket betting platforms.The accused, Rohan alias Sheikh Wasiul Khan (29) from Midnapore East in West Bengal, and Jyoti Prakash Pallai (36) from Bhubaneswar, allegedly operated fraudulent gaming platforms and phishing websites to lure victims with promises of substantial profits.Investigators said the 34-year-old victim, a businessman from Kalinga Nagar area of Jajpur district, invested Rs 1.65 crore in two online cricket betting platforms between Aug 2022 and Jan 2025. While he received returns of about Rs 57 lakh in multiple instalments, he ultimately suffered a net loss of Rs 1.08 crore.The matter came to light when the victim filed a complaint with the cyber crime police station under the crime branch on May 1. Subsequent investigation revealed that significant amounts were transferred to accounts controlled by the accused, who had created elaborate fake betting platforms to deceive investors.Following the arrests, police highlighted an increase in similar betting frauds, noting two suicides stemming from the crime in Balasore and Kendrapada last week.The crime branch advised the public to verify the legitimacy of online platforms before making any investments and to report suspicious activities immediately.
