A 19-year-old youth hailing from Rajasthan has been apprehended by the police on charges of defrauding individuals through a cryptocurrency investment scam. Narendra Chaudhary, a resident of Sawai Madhopur district, ran a mobile repair and accessories shop while carrying out the illicit scheme in his village, with the assistance of a juvenile accomplice. The scam came to light when a victim approached the Delhi Police with a complaint stating that he had been swindled of Rs 45,000 in a social media scam. According to the complainant, the alleged fraudsters had promised him double the invested amount within a single day if he participated in crypto funds through their platform. The victim claimed to have joined a social media group that advertised lucrative returns on investments in bitcoin, other cryptocurrencies, and mutual funds, as detailed by a senior police officer.
The victim proceeded to contact the mobile number provided in the group and began receiving messages on WhatsApp. The person on the other end identified himself as Bonesh Meena. The complainant was then asked to pay Rs 10,000 initially, followed by an additional Rs 6,000 as GST for one month. Subsequently, Meena contacted the victim again, claiming that his profits had been secured, but demanded a commission of Rs 12,000, ultimately deceiving him out of a total of Rs 45,000. In response to the complaint, a specialized team led by Inspector Pawan Tomar, the Station House Officer (SHO) of the Cyber Police Station in the north district, was formed to apprehend the perpetrators.
Through diligent investigation, the police were able to trace the location of the mobile number to Kundera village in Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan. Acting on this information, the police conducted a raid in Kundera village and successfully arrested Chaudhary, as confirmed by Deputy Commissioner of Police (north) Sagar Singh Kalsi. During interrogation, Chaudhary confessed to working in conjunction with a juvenile accomplice and revealed that they operated from Kundera and neighboring villages. This arrest serves as a significant development in the fight against cryptocurrency scams, shedding light on the need for increased vigilance and awareness among potential investors. Authorities continue to urge the public to exercise caution and conduct thorough research before engaging in any financial transactions involving cryptocurrencies.