Pune: Pune has been rocked by a cyber crime like never before. Five youths working as ''delivery boys,'' have been found by the Pimpri-Chinchwad police to have been operating 120 bank accounts known as ''mule accounts.'' In these accounts, the five youths were receiving commission from their handlers and funds swindled from the victims of online share trading frauds.

POLICE PRAISED

The racked was unearthed by the Cyber Cell of Pimpri-Chinchwad Police Commissionerate which is drawing praise from citizens and activists from Pune and beyond. Police Commissioner Vinaykumar Chaube and his team has come in for fulsome praise for what is being described as swift and painstaking action by the cyber cell of the Pimpri-Chinchwad Police Commissionerate.

The Pimpri-Chinchwad Police on Wednesday held a press conference in this regard to inform the media as to how they have exposed the cyber fraud. At the press conference Deputy Commissioner of Police Sandeep Doiphode, Assistant Commissioner Of Police Vishal Hire, Senior Police Inspector Santosh Patil, Assistant Police Inspector Praveen Swami and Police Sub Inspector Sagar Poman were present.
The police officials gave detailed briefing to the media. They explained in details how the fraudsters operated.

The fraudsters  who have been arrested by Pimpri-Chinchwad include Junaid Querishi (21) of Tingare Nagar, Salman Shaikh (23), Abdul Ansari (23), Taufik Shaikh (22), residents of Lohegaon and Aqif Anwar Khan (29) of Kondhwa. 

The CULPRITS 

The Pimpri-Chinchwad unearthed the fraud when they were probing a case of online share trading fraud. The fraud was reported to the police by a 46-year-old woman who lives in Pashan-Sus Road area. The woman was promised high returns for her investment in share market. 

During the probe, the Pimpri-Chinchwad police first caught hold of JUnaid Querishi, then took three more into custody. And finally, caught fifth one who was identifed as Arif Anwar Khan.

The MODUS OPERANDI

The Pimpri-Chinchwad police said 120 accounts (known as Mule Accounts) where used to transfer money of those who had invested in share market. 

The suspects would withdraw the amount from these accounts and transfer the accounts of their handlers based in Hong Kong. 

This was done through USDT cryptocurrency. 

The handlers then paid commission to these suspects in their accounts.

The police unearthed the scam while doing a technical analysis of the 46 year old woman who had lodged a complaint of fraud.

The woman had invested the amount after seeing an advertisement on the social media. The advertisment was regarding share market classes and investment.

When she clicked on the advertisment, her number was immediately added to a whatsapp group called Schoder Academy VIP 34.''