Mangaluru: Belagavi police apprehended two individuals accused of misusing bank accounts belonging to underprivileged citizens for digital fraud. The suspects, Avinash Sutar (28) from Tahsildar Galli and Anoop Karekar (42) from Ramdev Galli, allegedly played a key role in an online scam.
How Was the Deception Uncovered?
Authorities stumbled upon the racket while investigating a cybercrime case. The duo lured financially struggling individuals into opening bank accounts, offering them meager sums in return. Pretending to engage in online trade, they gathered account details and passed them on to internet fraudsters.
These criminals used the accounts to extort affluent victims via video calls, threatening them with fake digital arrests under fabricated money laundering charges. Fearing dire consequences, victims transferred funds to these accounts, unknowingly aiding cyber fraud.
Breaking the Case
The scheme surfaced when Radhakrishna Nayak from Puttur fell prey to cybercriminals. He received a video call from scammers who falsely accused him of money laundering and coerced him into transferring ₹40 lakh through RTGS. Suspicion grew after a few days, leading him to lodge a complaint at the CEN police station.
Investigators traced the money trail to a Belagavi-based account, uncovering the involvement of the arrested duo.
North India Connection
The suspects had links to cybercriminals from North India, primarily operating through Telegram. They sold account details for commissions, with further investigations pointing to ties with Jamtara, Jharkhand—a notorious cybercrime hub.
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