Delhi Gang Advertises On IndiaMART, Scam Customers of Rs 8 lakh

Every day, countless individuals fall prey to internet scams. Scammers from all corners of the globe may be targeting your computer or mobile device at this very moment. Recent data collected from January 1, 2020, to December 7, 2022, shows that there have been over 1.6 million reported cases of cybercrime, with more than 32,000 FIRs filed. One such scam occurred in Delhi.

Four people who were reportedly involved in an online shopping scam using the e-commerce site INDIAMART were detained by Delhi Police on Wednesday. The police claim that they defrauded a person who wanted to purchase a photocopy machine for Rs. 8 lakhs. 

The Shahdara Trader reportedly lodged a complaint against the accused, which is how the police learned about the situation. The trader had ordered a copier through the INDIAMART website. He was contacted by a man who identified himself as Anshul Agarwal, the sales manager of Balaji Enterprises and promised to bring the machine to the merchant.

In order to get the machine, he requested that the merchant pay him Rs 3.21 lakh to his bank account. After the trader paid, Aggarwal stopped returning his calls, did not deliver the machine, and did not give him his money back.

The culprit was identified using sophisticated surveillance techniques and call records analysis, according to Rohit Meena, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Shahdara). “On April 11 from Rohini, a guy by the name of Puneet Chandok (41) was detained based on technical surveillance. He was found to have two swipe machines, fifteen debit cards, five mobile phones, and nine SIM cards.

Later, Chander Shekhar (30), Vipin Kumar (30), and Vishnu Sharma (24) were detained along with him. With their capture, the police said that 8 lakh rupees worth of online retail fraud cases had been discovered.

Chandok disclosed how his gang members initially defrauded individuals by running product advertisements on the INDIAMART website and mobile application. The members always ask customers who call the number listed on the internet to send money to their bank accounts so they can buy the item. remarked DCP Meena. He claimed that the accused would utilise ATMs to withdraw money from the bank accounts. He claimed that Chandok organised the SIM cards and oversaw the bank accounts.

Internet fraud involves the use of networked equipment and programs to deceive or exploit unsuspecting victims. The term “internet fraud” encompasses a wide range of cybercrimes, including identity theft, phishing, and other similar offences. As the number of people using online services continues to grow and cybercrime tactics become increasingly sophisticated, the number of scams and their associated monetary losses is also on the rise, reaching billions of dollars annually.

If someone asks for your personal or bank information and you suspect that you have been scammed, do not divulge any personal information to them. When conducting financial transactions online, make sure that you are using a secure server and a reputable website. Contact your local sheriff’s office immediately to report the fraud and get assistance in taking the necessary steps to protect yourself. And, above all, remain calm throughout the process.