Gang Using AI to Defraud Big Companies of Crores Arrested; 14-Year-Old Also Involved
कात्तिक ३०, २०८२ १६:२०
Kathmandu: Parsa police have arrested an organized gang that misused AI to defraud big companies and trap the general public through various online schemes. Three people, including a 14-year-old minor, were arrested. Initial police investigations show the group made illegal transactions worth more than Rs 100 million.
Acting on a special tip-off, a team from the Parsa District Police Office detained them from the road section in front of Prabhu Hospital in Ward No. 8 of Birgunj Metropolitan City on Wednesday. The arrested individuals are Krishna Prasad Sah, 35, of Musaili, Birgunj-29, Parsa; a 14-year-old minor from the same place; and Rahul Mandal, 21, of Bishrampur Rural Municipality-1, Bara. Police also recovered 43 ATM cards from various banks.
According to DSP Hari Bahadur Basnet, spokesperson for the District Police Office, Parsa, the gang adopted a new and sophisticated method for online fraud. They mainly targeted large commercial companies.
They contacted companies and ordered goods in large quantities. Using AI technology, they created purchase orders that looked genuine and sent fake vouchers showing the amount deposited in the bank. DSP Basnet said, “After seeing the vouchers, the companies would send the goods believing that the payment had been made. But when they later checked the bank account, the amount had not been deposited. In this way, they were seen defrauding large amounts of goods.”
According to police, they did not receive the defrauded goods directly. Instead, they managed them in different layers. One person picked up the goods, another stored them, and a third sold them in the market. This structure made it difficult for investigators to reach the main planner.
The gang also targeted the general public. They cheated through phishing, OTP fraud, job scams, and fake online businesses on social media. The investigation shows they made small investments at first by promising income from home. After gaining trust by returning some money, they encouraged larger investments and then cut off contact.
To collect the money, the gang lured poor and illiterate people by offering a monthly rent to open bank accounts and digital wallets in their names. The gang operated these accounts itself. “So much so that it seems this gang hired people to even withdraw the collected money from ATMs,” DSP Basnet said. “It was seen that they were trying to be vigilant in every way. However, through our meticulous investigation, we have found one of the leaders of the gang.”
Police say Krishna Prasad Sah is the main dealer. Transactions worth more than Rs 100 million have been traced through his account. The arrested 14-year-old minor was used to transport goods after being lured with money.
The Parsa District Court has extended the remand of the three in a banking offence case by three days. Further investigation is underway. Police are looking into the involvement of others and additional incidents of fraud.
पछिल्लो अध्यावधिक: कात्तिक ३०, २०८२ १६:२०
