On Wednesday, the police in Bengaluru announced the arrest of a juvenile in relation to a cyber fraud case that was first reported in May. The investigation revealed that scammers had allegedly set up fraudulent Facebook accounts using the names and images of high-ranking IAS and IPS officers, deceiving numerous individuals under various false pretenses.
The case originated when a fake Facebook profile was created in the name of M Narayana, the Deputy Commissioner of Police for Electronic City. This fraudulent account sent friend requests to Narayana’s acquaintances and the general public. Authorities indicated that the suspect utilized the officer’s identity to establish credibility before soliciting money from victims.
An FIR was filed by the Hebbagodi police on May 16 after Narayana reported the incident, prompting investigators to track down the perpetrators. Since then, over ten individuals from various regions of Karnataka have come forward, claiming they were scammed through this counterfeit profile, with reports also emerging from areas such as Banasawadi and Karwar.
The investigation eventually led law enforcement to Kotakurd village in Rajasthan, where a juvenile connected to the scheme was arrested on August 24, following a notice served to his parents.
During interrogations, the juvenile confessed to creating several fake Facebook profiles impersonating senior IAS and IPS officials alongside his accomplices. These profiles were reportedly used to contact victims and solicit funds under different guises.
In one particular tactic, the accused allegedly informed victims that a friend who served as a CRPF Commandant had been reassigned and was looking to sell his furniture and household items at discounted rates.
“By crafting this narrative and persuading individuals to purchase the items, they managed to extract money from the victims,” stated a police official.
The police confiscated Rs 2 lakh in cash from the juvenile, which they suspect to be proceeds from the fraudulent activities. Investigators are also probing the bank accounts and other financial channels believed to have been utilized for receiving payments from victims.
Authorities noted that this fraud is part of a more extensive network operating across multiple states, including Delhi and Rajasthan, where individuals have reportedly been defrauded via fake social media profiles posing as senior government officials.
“This issue extends beyond a single location. A larger syndicate is functioning in various regions of the country, including Delhi and Rajasthan. Numerous individuals have been victimized by such schemes, where the identities of several IAS and IPS officers are manipulated to gain trust. The juvenile we detained seems to be a significant figure in this network, and efforts are ongoing to identify and apprehend other gang members,” a police representative remarked.
The juvenile was presented before the Juvenile Justice Board on August 25 and has since been placed in a remand home.
The police have urged the public to verify the authenticity of social media accounts claiming to represent senior government officials and to refrain from transferring money in response to requests made through such profiles.
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