Pramesh S Jain & Dr B Thomas (Special correspondent)
The Northeast division cyber crime police on Wednesday busted a gang of four running a fake transport company impersonating a leading packers and movers firm to cheat people on the pretext of providing low-cost services.
The accused identified as Puran Singh Chouhan,25,Narendra,32,Dharmendra,21 and Dharamveer, 24.
The fraud came to light when 50-year-old Ashfaq Hussain,a private firm employee checked online for the contact numbers to transport his bike to Hubli .
A person identifying himself as Sandeep approached him,assured to transport the bike for Rs.4,000 and even came home to get the bike .
However when the bike did not reach the destination Hussain called up Sandeep who started demanding more money to transport the vehicle.
Suspecting something fishy on June 22,Hussain filed a complaint.
Based on the complaint the cyber crime police track down the accused identified as Puran Singh Chouhan,25,Narendra,32,Dharmendra,21 and Dharamveer, 24.
Investigations revealed that the accused are misusing the names of reputed transport companies and placing advertisement online with their personal contact numbers offering movers and packers services at throwaway prices .
Once they are contacted,the accused would visit the victims house to get the vehicles and escaped .
They would start demanding more money and once the money is paid,the accused would sent the vehicle to the destination by paying the regular price and keep the remaining amount.
All the four accused have been charged under section 66D (using communication device or computer resource cheats by personation) of IT Act and investigating further to ascertain their criminal background.
Bengaluru Police appeals to general public:
Do not blindly believe whatever is displayed on the top of the #Google search.Paid advertisements appear at the top.
Be careful while calling customer care number obtained from #Google search.
Visit official website of the company for customer care/booking contact numbers.
Any courier booking taken without tracking ID might be fake.
Finally Bengaluru Police Commissioner,C H Pratap Reddy,has appreciated Addl CP East,A subramanyeshwara Rao,DCP Northeast,Dr Anoop A Shetty,PI,Santhosh Ram R,PSI,Ramangowda,ASI,Ramesh,and staff as,Oblesh,Chikkahanumaiah,Mahadev,Amith and other staff has been appreciated for the exemplary work done by them in nabbing the four member gang who were running fake courier service scam and a suitable reward will be given to whole team he added.
