Patna: Cyber fraudsters in Patna have once again come up with a new trick to cheat people, this time by using the name of global fast-food chain Burger King. A local businessman, who wished to take a Burger King franchise, was trapped through a fake website and contact number posted on Google. Believing it to be genuine, he transferred a total of Rs 11.79 lakh before realising he had been duped.
According to police, the gang created fake websites, email IDs and mobile numbers in the name of well-known companies. Once someone reached out to inquire about a franchise, the criminals demanded money in stages. First, they asked for a registration fee, then a security deposit, and finally a large sum as a final clearance for the franchise. By the time the victims understood the fraud, they had already lost huge amounts of money.
In this case, the Patna businessman followed the same steps. After finding the fraudulent contact details online, he kept paying in instalments as instructed, thinking his franchise application was moving forward. However, when he failed to receive any confirmation from the real company, he realised he had been scammed and immediately filed a complaint with the police.
Acting quickly, Patna Police formed a special team with the help of the cyber police station and carried out raids in Ranchi. Four suspects – Vikas Kumar, Akash Kumar alias Ludi, Chandrapal Patel and Manish Kumar – were arrested. Police also recovered seven mobile phones and Rs 16,100 in cash from them during the operation.
Officials said that this gang operates in an organised manner, and their network stretches across Bihar, Jharkhand and several other states. The arrested men are being interrogated, and their bank accounts are under investigation. Police believe more members of the group will be caught soon as the probe continues.
