To gain the trust of the victims, he sent fake identity card over WhatsApp, bearing the Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs, National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, and even the Royal Seal of India, introducing himself as “Cyber Legal & Technical” personnel, police said
The suspect allegedly extorted money from victims of cyber fraud by promising to help them recover their lost funds, the official said. Representational Pic/File
The Cyber Police of the West Region in Bandra has arrested a 35-year-old Panvel man for posing as an official from the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) and the 1930 National Cybercrime Reporting Portal’s helpline, an official said on Friday.
The suspect allegedly extorted money from victims of cyber fraud by promising to help them recover their lost funds, the official said.
The arrested accused, identified as Anil Madhukar Darekar, a resident of Panvel, was arrested on Thursday, said a police officials.
According to officials, Darekar had been contacting cyber fraud victims using multiple mobile numbers while claiming he was an employee of I4C, operating through the government’s 1930 cyber helpline. To gain their trust, he sent victims a fake identity card over WhatsApp, bearing the Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs, National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, and even the Royal Seal of India, introducing himself as “Cyber Legal & Technical” personnel.
In this case, he demanded money from the victim under the pretence of court fees and legal charges to recover the defrauded amounts. He directed victims to transfer funds to bank accounts linked to a UPI ID under the name of Sonali Kadam.
After a series of technical investigations, he was traced and arrested from his location. During the arrest, police seized the mobile phone used in the crime, debit cards, and the forged government ID card.
Preliminary investigations suggest that Darekar obtained information about registered cyber complaints and specifically targeted victims across Maharashtra. Police suspect he may have duped many more individuals using this modus operandi.
A case was registered under Sections 318(4), 319(2), 336(2), 336(3), 338, 340(2) of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 66(a) and 66(d) of the IT Act, against the arrested accused.
The case was led and solved by Senior Police Inspector Suvarna Shinde and officers Mangesh Majgar, Balasaheb Kanawade, Vijaykumar Ghorpade, Amol Phapale, and Deepak Padalkar.
“No officials from the I4C or 1930 helpline will demand or ask for any type of payment to register a complaint. We urge citizens not to transfer any money based on messages received via WhatsApp or calls where fraudsters pose as cybercrime authorities. First, verify the caller by going to legitimate websites or visit the nearest police station where there is a cyber cell. In case of any suspicious communication, immediately report it to the nearest police station or call the cyber helpline at 1930,” advised a police official.
For reporting cybercrime, visit: https://cybercrime.gov.in
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