Online fraud led by Nigerian busted

Nitin Yeshwantrao TNN

Thane: A six-member syndicate led by a Nigerian, who had fleeced a 45-year-old woman of Rs 22 lakh in an online fraud, was busted on Thursday.
    The fraudsters led by Abul Ayman (25) were picked up by officials of the economic offences wing of the Thane police from their hideout at Mira Road. The gang would befriend women on social networking sites and after gaining confidence they would suggest they become partners in multi-crore business plans and ask for initial investments.
    The 45-year-old self-employed victim was trapped by Sagar Mainkar (34), Mohammed Naushad (27), Mangesh Jadhav (31), Kamlesh Soni (54), Kishor Soni (54) and Ayman.
    “The woman exchanged her cell phone number with them. With their intentions clear, the six suggested a joint business venture. However, they wrote to her that they were marooned on an island near Malaysia and surrounded by gun-totting pirates,” a police officer said.
    One of the conmen forwarded an e-mail to the victim, in which there was an offer to send five lakh pounds, credit cards, a cheque book to gain her complete confidence. The unsuspecting woman did not realize the trap and assumed that she had hit the gold pot by befriending the men.
    “The men told her to deposit the money in bank accounts opened under fictitious names. This money, they told her, was required to be paid in advance to settle courier bills, local taxes in Malaysia and Custom fees. The woman did as she was told and when she ran out of funds she pawned her house to raise money,” the official said.
    The victim got suspicious when the conmen asked for more money and approached the police.


Source::::: The Times of India, 22-02-2013, p.05, http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Client.asp?Daily=TOIM&showST=true&login=default&pub=TOI&Enter=true&Skin=TOINEW&AW=1361550241034