The Delhi Police have arrested a key suspect linked to a sophisticated ‘like and share’ scam that targeted social media users across India. The accused, identified as Raj Kumar from Dwarka, was apprehended in Sirsa, Haryana, following an extensive probe into fraudulent activities.
The scam operated primarily via Telegram and other digital platforms and enticed victims with promises of easy money. Unsuspecting individuals were recruited under the guise of part-time work, where they were asked to like and share online content in exchange for a commission, reports The420.
Once trust was established, victims were persuaded to invest in ‘premium’ packages, falsely assuring them of higher returns. However, after accumulating substantial funds, the fraudsters would abruptly sever communication, shutting down Telegram groups and deactivating contact numbers, leaving victims unable to recover their money.
The magnitude of the operation became evident as authorities uncovered 85 similar complaints spanning 23 states. Under the direction of DCP (Dwarka) Ankit Singh, cybercrime investigators traced the fraudulent financial trail to an IndusInd Bank account managed by Raj Kumar. A forensic examination of the account revealed transactions amounting to Rs. 1.4 crore.
Following the financial trail, the Delhi Police launched a massive hunt, nabbing the culprit after following his movement for 80 km.
Several types of scams are targeting Indian citizens. For example, there is the menace of digital arrest scams where scammers from India and Nepal impersonate government officials and blackmail victims. Sometimes, this supposed arrest can last for a month.
Next is the parcel scam, in which scammers pose again as government officials and implicate the victim in an alleged crime. A 28-year-old corporate employee from Worli fell into this scam and lost Rs. 11 lakh.
Yet another scam is using the State Bank of India (SBI) Rewards malicious APK to target Indian users.
Authorities have urged the public to exercise caution when approached with seemingly lucrative online job offers, especially those requiring financial investments.
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