Fraudster gang of 8 from UP on prowl in city, warn cops

Egmore police inspector Settu warned that a gang of eight men from Uttar Pradesh have reached the city to cheat gullible persons using the same modus operandi.

While a software engineer lost about Rs 20,000 to an unidentified person in Nandambakkam in November last year, the Egmore police have arrested a suspect who tried to con a pedestrian in the same way in their jurisdiction on Tuesday.

He has been identified as M Mohammed Nadeem (31) of Mawana at Meerut district in Uttar Pradesh. Around 6 am on Tuesday, Nadeem approached one A Vinothkumar (33) of Egmore when the latter was waiting for a friend near Albert theatre.

Nadeem, who tried to speak to Vinothkumar in Hindi, allegedly told him that he wants to sell his mobile phone worth Rs 29,000 for a lesser sum. Believing him, Vinothkumar took out his wallet to take the money. But Nadeem snatched the wallet and fled.

When Vinothkumar raised an alarm, two police personnel who were at the spot chased and secured the accused. He was taken to the police station and inquiries revealed that Nadeem reached the city along with seven others to indulge in crimes using their phones.

While he was remanded in judicial custody, the city police have been alerted about the gang to nab the suspects.