The cybercrime team of Pune Police busted a call centre of instant loan apps and arrested 11 from Bengaluru.
The team also recovered 48 mobile phones, CPUs and Rs 70 lakh cash from the accused. (Representational image)
The cyber crime team of Pune Police busted a call centre of instant loan apps and arrested 11 people from Bengaluru.
The team also recovered 48 mobile phones, CPUs and Rs 70 lakh cash from the accused. Over 1 lakh contacts of victims were found in the call centre’s database during a major breakthrough by the cyber crime team.
These bogus loan apps are available on Google Play Store and other websites.
MODUS OPERANDI OF THE FRAUDSTERS
After a person downloads an instant loan app, permission to access contacts, gallery and other details on the device is requested. After the process is done, the user is granted a loan ranging from Rs 500-7,000 instantly.
But after a week, the fraudsters start demanding the lent amount plus an additional amount of interest.
If one fails to repay the loan amount within a week, they start threatening the person with morphed photos.
CYBERCRIMES IN PUNE
The cyber police station in Pune has received more than 4,700 cases from 2020 to 2022, in which people complained of abuse and harassment by loan apps.
Till now, 18 accused have been arrested from various parts of the country, of which six are women. According to the data available with the police, at least 1 lakh people have been duped in the city.
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