Team Herald
PANJIM: A school dropout, who impersonated as a woman on social media platform and cheated vulnerable persons, was on Saturday arrested by the Cyber Crime Cell of Goa Police.
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Swapnil Naik, a habitual offender previously booked by Curchorem Police in fraud and cheating cases, is charged with duping a Ponda resident of Rs 23.21 lakh approx. “From July 27, 2020 to September 16, 2020, an unknown user of Facebook on the pretext of marrying the complainant fraudulently deceived the complainant to transfer a total amount of Rs 23,21,068,” reads a press statement issued by the Cyber Police.
“Immediately investigation was taken up and all bank accounts, phones and online profiles linked to the accused were analysed. Accordingly, discreet surveillance was mounted in Goa and the accused was located hiding in Davangere, Karnataka where with the help of Karnataka Police, Cyber Crime took the accused into custody,” the release further states.
The accused has confessed he tried to take shelter in Sangli, Bangalore and Davangere in a bid to escape from the clutches of the police. His custodial interrogation reveals that he would pose as a female on social media platforms and trap innocent persons for financial gains.
“He would present a sorry figure of himself and convince the victims to transfer money to him. He would also blackmail his victims, once they shared their personal details with the accused and then trap them further,” it said.
The investigation team is now trying to identify other victims and accomplices involved in the network.
