SIM swap fraud: Nigerian-led gang in crime branch custody

The main accused has been identified as Odafe Henry (25) from Nigeria, while his other gang members — Santosh Banerjee (52), Ankan Saha (31), Rajat Kundu (35) and Chandan Verma (42) — are from West Bengal, said anti-bank fraud wing Assistant Commissioner Pandian. The kingpin, identified as James, is said to be operating and controlling the gang from Nigeria.

Police said that the gang hacked banks accounts of business entities and individuals by sending them phishing mails. “Their modus operandi was to collect the account holder details such as names, Aadhaar details and phone numbers linked to the account. Later, they would apply for a new SIM card for the same number with the network provider. After they receive this, they will do all the transactions keeping the original account holders in the dark, as the OTPs would come to the new SIM cards. While the victims would be thinking that there is a network problem in the phone connection, fraudsters will swindle all the money in their account and transfer into their accounts. They always carry out the operation on Fridays as the banks would be closed in the weekend,” said the Assistant Commissioner.

Police said the gang has been active since 2014, adding that several cheating complaints, accounting over Rs 100 crore, have been reported from across the country in the last four years.

In January, Telangana police busted the gang and arrested six of them from West Bengal. CCB sleuths from Greater Chennai Police got in touch with Telangana police, as they too had received five similar complaints and found out that the looted money was transferred to the same bank accounts. A team led by inspector Sureshkumar went to Hyderabad and took them into their custody on Wednesday. They will be brought to the city for further investigation, said police.

After busting a gang that cheated the public in the guise of offering loans, the anti-bank fraud wing of CCB arrested three more persons, including a couple, in connection with the case. The accused, E Umapathy (40) and his wife Geetha (42) of Royapettah, and their friend T Sathish (35), who allegedly helped the absconding main accused to buy and sell cars bought using the looted money. Six expensive cars were also seized from them.

The accused had met him after police busted the gang and arrested seven persons. A few days ago, CCB sleuths arrested one more person who worked as bodyguard for the main accused. Police said the main accused is a gambling addict, who splurged the money at casinos across the country and abroad.