Mastermind Behind Rs 1 Crore Digital Hoax Nabbed

The Goa Cyber Crime Police have apprehended Anil Tripathi, the alleged mastermind of a Rs 1 crore digital fraud case, upon his arrival at Delhi airport from Singapore. Authorities detained Tripathi on August 15, placing him in police custody for five days, Superintendent of Police (Cyber Crime) Rahul Gupta confirmed.

Tripathi, residing at Marina Bay Financial Centre in Singapore, became the seventh arrest in an ongoing investigation that began in December 2024, centered in Marna, Siolim, North Goa. The scam involved impersonating a Delhi Crime Branch officer via WhatsApp, deceiving a woman into believing she was embroiled in a legal case, and coercing her to transfer Rs 1 crore. The fraud included fake Supreme Court documents, with funds moving across three bank accounts.

Technical and financial scrutinies, alongside interrogative leads from former detainees, facilitated Tripathi's capture. A Look Out Circular triggered his airport detention. Known for previous offenses, Tripathi was earlier arrested in Singapore for a $64,000 fake tech support scam, redirecting a portion to Indian accounts. He now faces charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act.

(With inputs from agencies.)