Dehradun (Uttarakhand): The Uttarakhand Special Task Force (STF) has summoned the representatives of e-wallet Paytm and Razorpay to the cyber police station in a fraud case linked to the Chinese 'Power Bank App', wherein Rs 360 crore have been laundered to China. It is known that several people had fallen prey to a fake application that promised lucrative returns on investments. According to the STF, effective reforms to curb such fraud at the national level will be carried out soon following talks with the officials of digital payment firms. In the investigation, it was revealed that thugs targeted Indian customers via a mobile app that was operated from Hong Kong and that the transactions were done without proper KYC and crores of rupees were swindled within a day.
A technical team from the Dehradun Cyber Crime Police Station were able to trace that the money which was sent to China through online payment gateways from where it was converted into cryptocurrencies, via the 'Power Bank App' and that the fraud racket was run from Hong Kong and China. Apart from this, information has also been received regarding many other suspicious apps which are being used for these kinds of cyber fraud.
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According to Uttarakhand STF, a case was also registered by the Legal Head of Razorpay against the directors of some companies, in connection with the 'Power Bank App' fraud on 1st June 2021 at the Cyber Crime Police Station in Bengaluru. The firms include - H&S Ventures Inc, Clifford Ventures, Lorfly Technology PVT Ltd, Biosoft Ventures Inc, Maojaza Technology PVT Ltd, Divyam Infracom PVT Ltd, 360TEQ Software PVT Ltd, Centronon Solution PVT ltd, Purplehuse Sunny communication PVT Ltd and Sachin Mapleleaf Communication (OPC).
So far, around 8 cases have been registered in the state for fraud in connection with the 'Power Bank App' case. Based on the FIR registered, the STF has arrested two main accused from Uttarakhand. While 4 who were arrested from Bangalore and 2 from Delhi in connection with the case are being taken to Dehradun. Apart from this, a court notice has also been served to Bengaluru residents - Nagabhushan and his wife Sukanya Nagabhushan, for their involvement in the cyber fraud network.
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Overall around 250 cases have been registered in different states across the country and 20 people have been arrested. As the case involves foreign nationals and companies, the matter is being investigated by national agencies such as the - Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Intelligence Bureau (IB), Enforcement Directorate (ED). Efforts are also on to take legal help by contacting international agencies as well.
