Hyderabad cyber crimes unit bust business fraud case; four arrested in Mumbai

HYDERABAD: In a significant breakthrough, the cyber crimes unit of Hyderabad Police has arrested four individuals, including a Nigerian national, in connection with a high-profile business fraud case. The accused, identified as Vincent Ibhaduwede, Shakil, Arvind Mishra, and Saifullah Khan, were apprehended in Mumbai for their involvement in an elaborate scheme that swindled an amount of Rs 87 lakh from the complainant.

The case came to light on May 16, 2023, following a meticulous investigation by the cyber crimes unit. The accused employed a sophisticated modus operandi to carry out their fraudulent activities, leveraging email communication and fictitious identities.

According to the police, the main perpetrator, Christopher, operating under the alias of Dr Arthur Williams, contacted the complainant, who is a pharmaceutical researcher and manufacturer, with a lucrative business proposal. Claiming to represent Lexo Pharma, a reputed pharmaceutical company based in the United States, Christopher enticed the victim with a mutually beneficial opportunity involving the supply of 2,000 packets of Cissus Populnea stems every month. Arthur convinced the victim that Lexo Pharma required this raw material for their medicinal products.

To establish credibility, Christopher introduced a fake raw material supplier named Monika Sharma, as well as a fictitious manager of Lexo Pharma, Larry White. Initially, the victim was asked to purchase three packets of the raw material, for which he paid Rs 1,44,000. These packets were handed over as samples to an individual named Danny, who turned out to be an African national residing in Delhi. Subsequently, the victim paid a total of Rs 87,45,000 to Siya Enterprises, under the pretence of procuring a total of 200 packets of the raw material.

The accused played distinct roles in executing the fraudulent scheme. Christopher, the mastermind, is currently absconding. Vincent, the Nigerian national, was responsible for collecting the proceeds of the crime and transferring them to Nigeria through Christopher's brother. Shakil facilitated the withdrawal of money from various accounts and handed it over to Vincent. Arvind Mishra was involved in withdrawing funds from ATMs and passing them on to Shakil. Lastly, Saifullah Khan opened a fake account under the name Siya Enterprises, further facilitating the fraudulent transactions.

The swift action taken by the Cyber Crimes Unit, led by Inspector K. Pramod Kumar and supervised by ACP KVM Prasad, resulted in the apprehension of the accused within 30 days of the case being reported. The police seized one laptop and six mobile phones as evidence during the operation. In light of this incident, the police urged the general public to remain cautious and skeptical of any unsolicited emails promising lucrative business opportunities.