New Delhi: Lahori Gate Police apprehended an individual in Shimla accused of committing a one-crore rupee fraud by impersonating a friend’s son during a phone call. The arrest, made by the police, resulted in the recovery of items purchased with the fraudulently obtained funds, including a car, phone, and tablet. The complaint, filed by 62-year-old Pradeep Jain on November 1, detailed an incident where he received a call from a WhatsApp number displaying a photo of his friend Prakash Sanghvi’s son on October 28. The caller identified himself as Prakash’s son, seeking a one-crore rupee loan. Pradeep, trusting the caller’s identity, arranged the funds from an individual in the Charch Mission area. Upon later inquiry with his friend Prakash, Pradeep discovered the deception, leading to the realization that he had been defrauded.
The police initiated an investigation into the fraud case, tracking the location of the accused’s WhatsApp number to Shimla based on the victim’s complaint. Ranvijay Singh, the in-charge of the Church Mission police station, commenced the inquiry. The accused, identified as Suresh Purohit, was arrested on November 6.
During police interrogation, Suresh revealed that he operated in collusion with his accomplices Dashrath and Hemant Jain. Previously employed in Kucha Ghasiram, Suresh had access to information about individuals engaged in cash transactions. He admitted to perpetrating fraud on four occasions in the past. Suresh disclosed that he had procured 40 lakh rupees from the ill-gotten gains, distributing the remaining amount among his associates. The funds were utilized by Suresh to purchase an SUV, a phone, and a laptop.
This incident underscores the need for vigilance against impersonation scams, emphasizing the importance of verifying identities and cross-checking information before engaging in financial transactions. The police have not only arrested the primary accused but are also likely to probe further into the network involved in executing such fraudulent schemes.
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