Video calls posing as customs officials and seek detailed information; defrauds crores, accused have gold deposits of crores

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Police said the accused in the case of extorting Rs 2.5 crores from a native of Thiruvananthapuram after pretending to be a customs officer, has an investment of Rs 60 crores in the gold and diamond business. The police have arrested the main accused identified as Keshav from Mumbai. The crucial information came out through the detailed interrogation that followed.

The police also found that Keshav and his gang committed frauds through video calls after pretending to be customs officers. The police also found out from the investigation that the money stolen from the native of Thiruvananthapuram first reached the account of a native of Rajasthan. The account holder, who is a taxi driver, was caught by the cyber police from Rajasthan and interrogated in detail. The driver's statement was that he did not know anything except opening an account. Finally, the police arrested Keshav who committed the fraud.

Police said the suspects would invest in gold and diamond business and stock market so that there would be no evidence of where the money went. The fraud gang used to open accounts with several people in North India under the guise of self-employment ventures. Therefore, even if there is an investigation, it will be delayed to reach the leaders of the group. The investigation team said they even had a call center in Mumbai to commit the fraud.

'Mumbai Customs seized MDMA from a courier that arrived at your address. You should be interrogated before you are arrested. The questioning is online. A person wearing a uniform will be on a video call soon' was the message on the phone of the Thiruvananthapuram resident, the victim of fraud. The accused will then ask for bank details. After that, the accused will extort money from him online without leaving a single rupee.