Delhi: A 22-year-old youth was recently arrested for allegedly duping a money transfer agent through a calculated online scam. The South District Cyber Police on Friday said that the accused, Suraj Sharma, reportedly scammed a shop owner in Chhatarpur of Rs 70,000 through an elaborate scam. According to DCP South district, Ankit Chauhan, the scammer, who was a resident of Usmanpur, contacted the shop owner and claimed that his ‘younger brother’ would come to collect an online money transfer.
Accused Hires A Rapido Bike Rider
Reports stated that Sharma hired and sent a Rapido bike rider to the victim’s shop to support his claim. He gave him clear instructions to act as his brother. The rider, who was clueless about the scam, was sent to the shop with a QR code. The shop owner, believing the story, transferred the money to the QR in two installments – Rs 30,000 and Rs 40,000. But here’s the catch!
Scam Exposed
Once the money was transferred, Sharma asked the Rapido rider for the money in return. The rider then revealed that he was only hired to deliver the QR and had no relation to Sharma. Meanwhile, the accused had booked a Porter delivery and sent him to a mobile shop where he had earlier posed as an iPhone buyer. Notably, the money was sent to this mobile shop via QR.
Police Arrest The Accused
On the other hand, the victim immediately reported the case to the police after realizing that he had been scammed. Police registered an FIR against the accused under Section 318(4) of the BNS. Based on the financial transactions and digital evidence, the officials arrested the accused. It was revealed that Sharma used the duped money to fund his online gaming habit and has a past criminal record.