New Delhi, Jun 19 (PTI) The Delhi Police arrested two men for allegedly duping a woman of Rs 21 lakh in an online investment fraud, an official said on Thursday.
Pawan (29), from Chandigarh and Mankiraat (36) from Firozpur in Punjab, travelled to Nepal in connection with the crime and were allegedly operating under the guidance of Chinese nationals, the police said.
Several incriminating items, including an ATM card, chequebook, passbook and SIM card linked to the alleged account and a mobile handset used in the crime, were recovered.
Hotel bills from Nepal and air tickets linked to their travel were also seized from their possession.
"A complaint was received from Meenakshi Sharma, a resident of Ashok Vihar, who alleged that she was duped of Rs 21 lakh by fraudsters who promised her lucrative returns on share market investments," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Northwest) Bhisham Singh said in a statement.
The men shared a fake trading application with her that mimicked the interface of a genuine brokerage platform, showing manipulated profit and investment details, Singh added.
Meenakshi, who was in contact with the fraudsters only through social media, transferred the money in three transactions to their accounts.
The DCP further informed that the digital footprints of both men helped the team in identifying them. Subsequently, they were traced to a flat in Sunny Enclave in the Kharar area of Mohali in Punjab and apprehended.
"During questioning, it emerged that Pawan was in contact with Chinese nationals via social media and was providing them bank accounts opened in the names of unsuspecting people for a commission," Singh stated.
Mankiraat, facing financial distress, opened an account in his wife's name by manipulating address details, the police said, adding that the account was later used to receive proceeds of the crime.
The duo had travelled to Nepal, where they allegedly received the defrauded money with help from their foreign handlers, the police stated.
Further investigation is underway in the case.