International Gang of Cheats Busted With The Arrest of One African National

On 22^nd November 2013, the complainant received a call on her mobile from a lady who introduced herself as Assistant Registration Officer (Customs) at Indira Gandhi International Airport Terminal–II, New Delhi. She asked her if she knows Michael. When complainant replied in affirmative, the caller told her that Michael has arrived with diamond jewellery/ money and has been detained at the Airport. As he was required to have an anti-terrorism certificate for money etc., if she transfers Rs. 70,000/- for jewellery and Rs. 1.2 lac for money, Michael will be released from detention. The complainant transferred the given amount from Guwahati through SBI Bank in the account number provided by the said lady.

On 25^th November 2013, the lady again called the complainant and informed that Michael has refused to take back the money/ jewellery and has asked to hand it over to her. The said lady also sent her e-mails and told to deposit certain amounts in different bank accounts for releasing the jewellery and money. The said caller kept inducing her to deposit amount in different accounts on one pretext and the other. 

On 24^th February 2014, the complainant received a call from one Egobia Bobby on behalf of Micheal, who asked the complainant to reach Bengaluru. She was taken to a Hotel in Bengaluru. Next morning, Egobia Bobby opened a bottle bearing USA seal and containing some liquid. He demonstrated her to convert black strips into US Dollars by washing with that liquid, and sent her to market to use these Dollars to prove its genuineness. Egobia Bobby handed her over a bag containing black strips and demanded money for supplying the chemical, purportedly meant for converting the same into USD. She kept on paying Egobia Bobby in different bank accounts given by Michael as she had already paid enough money and wanted her money back desperately.

On 25^th June 2014, Egobia Bobby called the complainant and told her that CBI has come to know about the matter at Kolkata Airport and demanded money for release of the chemical/powder. She paid him Rs. 95 lac this time.

In January, 2015, Egobia Bobby came to India and insisted her to pay Rs. 9,70,000/- for release of the chemical and powder required for washing black dollars. At this stage, she realised that she has been cheated of Rs. 2 crore by this gang and reported the matter to police.

            Taking into consideration the involvement of organized gang in the cheating, a team comprising of Insp. Rakesh Dixit, SIs Sukram Pal, Sandeep, ASI Jagdish, HCs Puran Chand, Devender, Sanjeev, Bijender, Sunder Negi and Sant Ram was constituted under the supervision of ACP Sushil Kumar Singh and over all guidance of DCP Dinesh Kumar Gupta.

During the course of enquiry, the complainant was requested to accompany the raiding party to identify the accused. A trap was laid at Khirki Extension, Malviya Nagar and on identification of the complainant, one AIKHOMUN A. KELVIN, a Nigerian national was overpowered by the team who had posed as Egobia Bobby in his meetings with the victim.

            Some African nationals are running different cheating racket including Black Dollar scams by contacting people on Facebook using fake identity and posing themselves as British national. They lure victims in different ways after becoming their friend as they have duped the complainant. They preferably choose woman as a soft target. These scamsters have engaged some Indian women to make calls to the victim by posing as custom agents to gain the confidence of the target. They would call the target that his/her friend has been detained by Indian Custom authorities and demand certain amount for his release and provide some Indian bank account numbers for depositing the money. This is how the process of duping victims starts. Michael is the leader of one such organised racket. They are frequently visiting India and had contacts with Indian peoples, through whom they procure bank accounts in which the target are asked to deposit money. They also convince the gullible victims that black paper strip can be converted into Dollars by applying a chemical/powder and cheat them. One of gang member comes to India generally on fake papers and calls victim to a certain city and gives him demonstration of converting black papers strips into Dollars. Whereas the papers, which they claiming to be converted into dollars, are genuine dollars only. Once the victim gets lured by seeing this demonstration of making dollars, they ask him to deposit money in the different accounts on the pretext of purchasing the chemical, which is claimed to be very costly.

RECOVERIES:-

1.                  United Kingdom passport in the name of Albert Corey Hayden, driving license in the name of Aikhomun A. Kelvin issued by Federal Republic of Nigeria and a yellow card in which his name is mentioned as Idemvdian Osemudiamen, which all appear to be fake.

2.                  One Refrigerator, one LED TV, one Laptop, one music system, one Airtel set-up box and other items purchased from the cheated amount.

Accused Aikhomun A. Kelvin is a Nigerian national. He has studied up to secondary level and belongs to a middle class family. His father retired as a road engineer. He was unemployed and did part time jobs as cameraman in Nigeria. He came in contact with the mastermind Michael in Lagos and joined him to make easy money.