Two Accused Held in Joint Operation by Gurugram Police and Indian Cyber Coordination Center
Gurugram: In a significant breakthrough, the Cyber Crime Police arrested two employees of Airtel for allegedly providing virtual numbers to Indonesian and Chinese scammers.
The joint operation conducted by the Gurugram Police and the Indian Cyber Coordination Center led to the apprehension of the accused.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Neeraj Walia and Hemant Sharma, residents of Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh. Hemant Sharma was employed as a Senior Manager, while Neeraj Walia was responsible for site verification.
Modus Operandi of the Scam
The cybercrime police received a complaint from a woman who was duped by scammers using a Gurugram-based landline number. She was offered a part-time job, where she was required to post reviews for hotels.
Initially, small amounts of money were credited to her bank account to gain her trust. She was then added to a Telegram group, where she was assigned tasks and asked to invest money in exchange for higher returns.
However, when the victim requested a refund of her investment, the scammers demanded more money. Realizing she had been conned, the victim reported the matter to the police.
Police Investigation and Findings
During the investigation, it was revealed that the accused had issued landline and DID (Direct Inward Dialing) numbers to scammers in violation of TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) regulations.
These numbers were registered under a fake company named “Ekmdarsh Services Pvt. Ltd.,” which did not exist at the provided site address.
Airtel received monthly bills amounting to ₹8–10 lakh for these numbers. Further investigation uncovered that the accused had collaborated with the operational manager of Ekmdarsh Services Pvt. Ltd. to provide multiple virtual numbers to an Indonesian national.
Seized Evidence and Police Action
The police recovered two mobile phones used in the fraudulent activities. Both accused have been taken into police remand for further questioning. The investigation revealed that the illegal issuance of virtual numbers facilitated multiple scams targeting victims in India and abroad.
The Gurugram Police have assured that strict action will be taken against those involved in such activities. Further investigation is ongoing to identify other accomplices and prevent similar scams in the future.
Public Advisory
The police have urged citizens to remain cautious while responding to unsolicited job offers or investment schemes. Victims of cyber fraud are encouraged to report such incidents promptly.
