The arrest of two Nigerians recently in an online lottery scam case has thrown light on the involvement of locals in such frauds.
The arrest of two Nigerians recently in an online lottery scam case has thrown light on the involvement of locals in such frauds.
Most online lottery or phishing scams — in which victims are duped of lakhs of rupees — originate from Nigeria. In a few recent cases, the police have found that the racket is being run with the help of local people.
Last year, businessman Ajay Mishrilal Gupta, 31, filed a complaint with the MRA Marg police stating that one William Douglas had cheated him of Rs6.86 lakh in an online lottery scam. Douglas told Gupta that the amount was the processing and documentation charges and asked him to deposit the money in three bank accounts between August and September last year. Gupta alleged that Douglas stopped replying to his e-mails after the money was deposited.
The MRA police found that over Rs50 lakh had been deposited in the accounts over nine months. The case was, therefore, transferred to the Economic Offences Wing (EOW). EOW officials arrested the holder of one of the accounts, Neeraj Roy. Roy told the police that a person named Amjad Ali Khan had asked him to open the account. He said Khan had promised him commissions whenever money was deposited in the account.
“Khan got bank accounts opened for people running the online racket,” an EOW officer said. “He then got the money from the account holders, gave them a small commission, and gave the remaining amount to the Nigerians after taking his share.” Khan revealed names of two Nigerians running the racket. EOW officials arrested the two — Loveta Lucky Osazuva, alias Saira, and Gabubemi William Segan — from Kurla.
“Saira had a fake passport,” another EOW officer said. “Some local person may have helped her in making that.” A case of cheating and forgery has been registered against her at the Azad Maidan police station.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}