Online fraud: Odisha CB arrests 2 African nationals from New Delhi

Bhubaneswar: The Crime Branch of Odisha Police arrested two African nationals from New Delhi for their alleged involvement in an online fraud and brought them to Bhubaneswar on a five-day remand for questioning.

The arrested have been identified as Erikume (46) of Nigeria and Zouzou Alex (34) of Cote Dvoire. They have allegedly defrauded people of Odisha and Maharashtra of lakhs of rupees through various online schemes, police sources said.

Based on a complaint filed by one M Biswal of Bhubaneswar on February 2, 2018, a case had been registered by the Crime Branch, while Inspector Anila Anand was handed over the charges of the investigation.

As per sources, the accused had created a fake profile on internet in the name of Dr Bhupinder Singh, a USA based doctor. Later they cheated the complainant in the name of sending gifts and money from USA. In the process, they trapped the victim, who deposited more than Rs 10 lakh in different bank accounts, police said.

The two fraudsters were nabbed by a team of the Crime Branch on June 1 from Mahaveer Nagar under Tilak Nagar police limits in Delhi. Later, the duo was produced before the Delhi Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) court which granted permission to take them on a five-day remand.

Five mobile phones, three laptops, 20 SIM cards and two passports were seized from their possession, sources added.