Drugs racket busted: Fraudsters booked

THE FRAUDSTERS CLAIMED TO SELL REMDESIVIR, TOCILIZUMAB AT CHEAPER RATES

MUMBAI: Maharashtra cyber police registered an FIR (first information report) against unidentified cyber fraudsters who posed as representatives of pharma giant Cipla on social media and duped dozens of people across the country under the pretext of selling Remdesivir and Tocilizumab – two drugs used to treat Covid-19 – at cheaper rates.

Cipla approached the cyber police with the complaint on

Wednesday. “The company has provided us with the contact numbers of 38 people suspected to be involved in the racket and also details of 40 bank accounts across the country belonging to them. The cyber police started freezing the accounts on Thursday,” said an officer.

Cipla’s manager Vrajesh Bajaj in his complaint stated that the relatives of Covid-19 patients informed his company that few people posted mobile numbers on various WhatsApp groups and social media platforms posing as ‘authorised’ dealers of the pharma firm. When patients’ relatives contacted on the given phone numbers, the suspects would convey that the injections would be made available on the payment of 50% advance via online transaction. The rest of amount can be paid during the delivery of the drugs, the police said. The company was flooded with calls in which many complained that after receiving the advance, the suspects stopped responding to calls. Some also said they had received water and fake drugs which displayed the company’s name and logo.

“We would soon zero down on the suspects. Details of beneficiary accounts are also being obtained. The probe is on,” said Yashasvi Yadav, inspector general of state cyber police.