₹26 Lakh International Online Fraud: Crime Branch Files Chargesheet in Impersonation Scam
Economic Offences Wing exposes cross-border cyber scam involving fake identities, forged documents and multiple bank accounts
Srinagar, Dec 24: In a significant breakthrough against cyber-enabled financial crimes, the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Crime Branch Kashmir has busted a sophisticated international online impersonation and cheating racket involving fraudulent transactions exceeding ₹26 lakh and has filed a chargesheet before a Srinagar court.
In an official statement, EOW said the chargesheet has been submitted before the Court of Judge Small Causes, Srinagar, in connection with FIR No. 17/2020, registered under Sections 419, 420, 468 and 471 of the RPC, along with Section 66-D of the Information Technology Act.
The chargesheet has been filed against Jumbom Riba, daughter of Henjum Riba, a resident of Pagi village in Lepa Rada district of Arunachal Pradesh, for her alleged role in an organised online cheating and impersonation scam with international dimensions.
According to investigators, the case originated from a written complaint in which the victim stated that he was contacted through social media by a woman posing as Christiana, who claimed to be a secretary with Abbot Pharmaceutical, United Kingdom. On the pretext of offering dealership rights for a product named “Agasina Nut”, allegedly sourced from Arunachal Pradesh, the complainant was lured with promises of high returns and a fictitious international purchase agreement.
Believing the representations to be genuine, the complainant transferred around ₹26.25 lakh into multiple bank accounts. The fraud was further facilitated through a staged and fake demonstration of currency conversion, resulting in substantial financial loss.
During the investigation, EOW Kashmir established that the accused had used forged and non genuine identity documents, including fake voter ID cards, to open several bank accounts under the names Tabu Juli and Aisha Kholi across different banks. These accounts were allegedly operated by the accused herself and were used for routing, diversion and withdrawal of the defrauded funds.
Financial transaction analysis revealed rapid inter-bank transfers and cash withdrawals, with no legitimate income source to justify the credits. The investigation conclusively established offences of cheating, impersonation, forgery and use of forged documents as genuine.
EOW said the investigation has been completed and proved, and the chargesheet has been produced in absentia under Section 512 CrPC for judicial determination.
The Economic Offences Wing Kashmir has urged the public to remain vigilant and not fall prey to online or offline fraudsters, the statement added.
