Hyderabad: A 60-year-old woman NGO operator from Mainpuri, Uttar Pradesh, found herself embroiled in a cybercrime scandal when she was apprehended by a team of cybercrime police officers from Hyderabad. What surprised the officers the most was the presence of over 10 lawyers representing her, vehemently contesting her transit request and judicial remand.
The woman in question, Kamlesh Kumari, who contested the general elections on a major political party’s ticket last year, is accused of illegally receiving Rs 1.90 crore siphoned off from a 70-year-old businesswoman in Hyderabad. The details of the crime came to light when the elderly businesswoman, residing in Basheer Bagh, noticed that her bank account had been emptied without her knowledge. Perplexed and distressed, she sought help from the police, leading to the discovery of the cyber fraud.
The police investigation unveiled a shocking revelation about Kamlesh’s involvement in the crime. Allegedly in dire financial straits due to multiple loans, Kamlesh was lured by cyber fraudsters who promised her a hefty sum of Rs 35 lakh in exchange for letting them use her NGO account to funnel the proceeds of cybercrimes. Further probes revealed that Kamlesh is a suspect in two more cases registered at police stations in Delhi and Gujarat, indicating a pattern of criminal activities.
Sub-Inspector Vinay Kumar shed light on the modus operandi of the cyber criminals, describing it as APK fraud. This type of scam exploits Android Package Kits (APKs) to deceive users into installing malicious apps that steal sensitive information or take control of devices. In Kamlesh’s case, she was caught red-handed while attempting to withdraw the promised commission of Rs 35 lakh, leading to her apprehension by the police.
The entire sum of Rs 1.9 crore was siphoned off through nine transactions, with the criminals ensuring that the victim did not receive any OTPs on her phone by gaining full access and promptly deleting the messages. Despite their sophisticated tactics, the police managed to trace the illicit funds to multiple bank accounts and used mobile tower locations to track down the accused in Mainpuri, Uttar Pradesh.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (cybercrime) Dara Kavitha commended the successful recovery of the embezzled money, with Rs 35 lakh already refunded and the remainder to be processed through the court. She expressed astonishment at the vigorous defense put forth by Kamlesh’s legal team, who tried adamantly to thwart her arrest and remand, painting her as an unwitting pawn in the scheme.
To prevent similar incidents, the DCP emphasized the importance of cautious online behavior, particularly regarding clicking on suspicious links from unverified sources. The case serves as a stark reminder of the pervasive threat of cybercrime and the need for individuals to stay vigilant and informed about potential risks lurking in the digital realm.