Bhubaneswar: The Cyber Crime Unit of CID, Crime Branch, Odisha, has successfully apprehended three individuals, including two Nigerian nationals, involved in a large-scale investment fraud scheme. The arrests were made in New Delhi, marking a significant breakthrough in the fight against organized cybercrime.
The arrested individuals are identified as Christoper Chizobam alias Chizobam Krist, Nnamdi Stanley Mbamalu alias German, both Nigerian nationals, and Ms. Arti Gautam from New Delhi. This group was operating an investment scam under the guise of a lucrative saffron business, promising high returns to unsuspecting victims.
Ms. Arti Gautam opened multiple bank accounts in her name and others, which were used by Christoper to transfer the fraudulently obtained money. Christoper was responsible for collecting mule accounts to facilitate these transactions, while Nnamdi handled cash withdrawals from ATMs, passing the money to another Nigerian associate.
The investigation was initiated after a Bhubaneswar resident reported to the Cyber Crime Unit that he had been contacted via Facebook, WhatsApp, and email in December 2023 by a fraudster impersonating a former IAS officer from the Odisha cadre, allegedly working at The World Bank in Washington, DC. The fraudster convinced the victim to invest in a project supplying saffron to the World Bank, leading to a loss of Rs. 2,65,15,940 (approximately $322,000) through multiple transactions.
Realizing the scam, the victim filed a complaint with the Cyber Crime Police Station, CID-CB. A case (No. 10/2024) was registered on February 26, 2024, under various sections of the IPC and IT Act 2000. Inspector Bibhu Ranjan Sundaray led the investigation, which resulted in the arrests.
The seized items from the accused include:
- 6 mobile handsets
- 2 laptops
- 10 SIM cards
- 1 dongle
- 10 bank account passbooks
- 2 debit cards
- 1 Aadhaar card
Investigations revealed that this cybercrime gang had been involved in a series of frauds across the country, with their accounts linked to 94 cases in 10 states. The Crime Branch continues to verify their involvement in other cases through various cybercrime reporting portals.
The operation received robust support from the Delhi Police’s DCP South West and DCP Dwarka, with special teams assisting in the joint raids to apprehend the criminals.
The Cyber Crime Unit urges citizens to exercise caution while engaging with friends or acquaintances on social media, especially if contacted from new profiles or after a long period. They advise verifying identities through alternative means like direct phone calls and checking the legitimacy of any business offering high returns.
For any suspicious online activities or to report cyber fraud, citizens are encouraged to dial the Toll-Free Cyber Crime Help Line at 1930 or visit www.cybercrime.gov.in. Suspected fraud numbers can also be reported via the Cybercrime Reporting Portal of I4C, Ministry of Home Affairs, or the CHAKSHU portal of the Department of Telecommunications.