Second Mastermind Apprehended in Rs 1.5 Crore Chandigarh Cyber Fraud Case

In a significant breakthrough against the alarming rise of online financial crimes, Chandigarh Police have successfully apprehended the second key accused in a massive Rs 1.5 crore cyber fraud case. Lakhwinder Singh was recently taken into custody from Moga, Punjab, following an extensive investigation by the dedicated cyber crime investigation cell, bringing the authorities closer to unraveling the full extent of this sophisticated scam.

The intricate fraud came to light in October 2023, when a resident of Sector 33, Chandigarh, filed a formal complaint detailing how their bank account had been meticulously drained of a staggering Rs 1.5 crore.

The victim, like many unsuspecting individuals, fell prey to a cunning scheme where fraudsters impersonated legitimate bank officials. These perpetrators would contact victims under the guise of urgent KYC updates, expired bank accounts, or other seemingly critical banking issues, leveraging fear and urgency to manipulate them.

Under the pretext of providing assistance, the fraudsters would skillfully extract sensitive personal and financial information, including crucial One-Time Passwords (OTPs), from their targets.

Once armed with this data, they swiftly gained unauthorized access to the victim's bank account, systematically siphoning off the substantial sum over a period.

This latest arrest follows an earlier apprehension in the case. Kuldeep Singh, the first accused, was previously nabbed from Ludhiana, Punjab, underscoring the inter-state nature of these well-organized cybercrime networks.

The arrests highlight the persistent efforts of the Chandigarh Police to track down and dismantle these criminal operations that often span across different regions, making their detection and prosecution particularly challenging.

Lakhwinder Singh has since been produced before a local court and remanded in police custody, allowing investigators further time to delve deeper into the conspiracy.

This period will be crucial for uncovering more details about the network, identifying any other accomplices, and tracing the flow of the illicit funds. The ongoing investigation by the cyber crime investigation cell aims to piece together the entire puzzle, ensuring that all involved parties are brought to justice and similar future frauds can be prevented.

Authorities continue to urge the public to remain vigilant against such scams.

Bank officials or legitimate service providers will never ask for sensitive information like OTPs, PINs, or complete card details over the phone or through unverified links. Awareness and caution remain the strongest defenses against these evolving and increasingly complex cyber threats.