Seven Nigerian and Ghanaian nationals are due to face trial in India for allegedly scamming over 350 victims of more than $94,000 (in dollar terms), according to the Punjab State police authority.
The suspects, all males aged 25 to 35, were apprehended by the Punjab Police’s Mohali Cyber Crime Cell during a sting operation to dismantle what officials characterised as an international fraud syndicate.
According to the Indian Express, the accused operated from a rented flat in Noida, where they allegedly set up a bogus call centre to carry out their fraudulent activities.
During the operation, the police seized 79 smartphones, four laptops (two of which were Apple MacBooks), 99 SIM cards (both Indian and foreign), and documentation related to 31 fraudulent bank accounts.
The total value of the confiscated items was estimated at around 30 lakh rupees, while bank transactions linked to the gang amounted to approximately 15 crore, equivalent to over $94,000.
Confirming the arrests, Senior Superintendent of Police Harmandeep Singh Hans said, “The accused allegedly used fake social media profiles to befriend Indian and foreign nationals.
“They would promise expensive gifts from abroad and later claim that customs had held the parcel, demanding money under the guise of clearance fees or taxes.
“Using advanced cyber tools and covert strategies, our team managed to apprehend the culprits.”
DSP Rupinderdeep Kaur Sohi, who led the operation, mentioned that “the house from which they operated was rented by a Nigerian woman, whose whereabouts are currently unknown.
“The suspects also opened bank accounts in private banks, and we are investigating the names on the accounts and how they procured the SIM cards.”
She also revealed that the group did not limit its fraud to Indian citizens just. “The scammers also targeted fellow Nigerian citizens, deceiving them with fake job offers in India,” Sohi told the newspaper.
The accused were claimed to have appeared in a Mohali court and were remanded in police custody for two days to help further investigation.
This finding comes hot on the heels of another revelation by the Telangana Anti-Narcotics Bureau, which recently revealed how some Nigerian nationals involved in drug trafficking in India utilise forged identities, expired visas, and sham marriages to carry out illegal activities.
