MEMBERS OF INT’L CHEAT GANG ARRESTED

VARANASI: City police arrested five members of an international gang of cheats who had duped many people in the name of offering imported gifts after being friendly with them on social media platforms, including Facebook and whatsapp. Passbooks of different banks and fake cheque books and their fake PAN cards have also been recovered from their possession.

In a press conference at reserve police line, Senior Superintendent of police (SSP) Nitin Tiwari said five cheats— Ashish Johnson, Bahadur Singh, Santosh Shrama, Ashok Sharma and Suresh Tomar were arrested from different locations.

These miscreants duped many doctors and traders. During interrogation, Tiwari said, the accused revealed that they used to strike friendship with doctors, traders and prosperous locals through whatsapp and facebook accounts. After being friendly with them, they used to promise to give them an imported gift.

After a few days, they used to call up the targets from any Indian number, asking the person (whom they address as target) that an expensive gift sent by one of his friends from foreign country has arrived. But as the gift is costly, it needs clearance for custom and income tax department. For getting the clearance, there is requirement of Rs 10,000 or Rs 20,000. The cheats then give an account number, telling the ‘target’ to deposit the amount. The SSP said that some gullible people landed in their trap.