The Navi Mumbai crime branch have arrested four persons, including three Africans, for allegedly cheating several people by luring them to purchase high-end, imported cars through an online scam.
According to the police, the suspects would place well-made advertisements on online portals offering imported cars at throwaway prices. When the prospective buyers called them on the given number to enquire about it, they were told that the vehicle was dumped during custom clearances when it was taken to India. The callers were then told that they could book that car by depositing Rs 4-10 lakh in the given bank account.
"Apart from imported cars, the suspects also uploaded pictures of Indian luxury cars. The pictures were so convincing that the victims paid the amount just within a few days without meeting anyone. They did not even bother to check the condition of the car. It was only after paying the money, they realised that they had fallen prey to a online scam," said Sunil Bajare, police inspector from the crime branch.
Acting on a tip off the police raided a flat in Kharghar on Wednesday and arrested two Africans from it. They were identified as Ben Benard, 32, and Frank Juhma, 34. The police also recovered two laptops, 15 mobile phones and 11 SIM cards of different companies from that flat.
"During interrogation they revealed that two more persons were involved with them and gave their details. Based on that details were arrested Kara Pitter, 26, a Nigerian and Kara Petter, 29, a Maharashtrian after a day. Petter spoke to the victims with a famale voice when they called the given numbers," he added.
The police have booked all of them under sections 467, 468, 471, 420 and 34 of Indian Penal Code. "The foreign nationals were overstaying in the city for the past two months and hence they have also been booked under relevant sections of Passport Act, 1967 and Foreigners' Act 1946," Bajare said.
Apart from Navi Mumbai, several people from other parts of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala were also cheated of Rs 50-55 lakh using the same modus operandi. A Bollywood star is also reportedly one of the victims in this case.
"So far we have recieved five applications and this number could increase in next two to three days. We are now investigating the case to find out if some more people were involved in the crime," he said. The judicial court has remanded the suspects to police custody till June 17.
Shrikant Pathak, deputy commissioner of police (crime) said, "We appeal to the city residents not to rent out their flats to any foreign national withoout a proper verifivcation of his or her background. Residents are requested to submit all the details of their tenants to the nearest police station. Punitve measures will be taken in case of violation of this rule."
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