Noida: In a stunning real-life twist reminiscent of the Spanish crime drama series ‘Money Heist,’ two cunning masterminds have been apprehended by the Cyber Crime Unit for orchestrating a multi-million rupee scam that targeted hundreds of individuals. The clever culprits even adopted aliases inspired by characters from the web series, further blurring the lines between fiction and reality.
Schemers’ identity revealed
The shrewd individuals behind this elaborate scheme have been identified as Ritesh Chaturvedi, alias Amit Singh, a resident of Kakadev in Kanpur, and Rishabh Jain, alias Prince Thakur, hailing from Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh.
Scammers exploit banking system
The investigation was prompted by a complaint filed by K.P. Prakash, an employee of Royal Expo Pvt. Ltd., located in the industrial area of Phase 2. Prakash had fallen victim to the scam, where the fraudsters ingeniously manipulated the company’s bank account. They exploited a combination of tactics, including suspending the registered SIM card associated with the bank account and hacking into the company’s email using the VPN of a well-known telecom company.
Methodical Deception
The accused managed to gain access to confidential information related to the bank account by stealthily acquiring details such as the registered mobile number and email ID. Subsequently, they manipulated the SIM card, linked it to a beneficiary’s identity, and obtained OTPs (One-Time Passwords) to authenticate the transactions.
Through a series of sophisticated maneuvers, they successfully transferred over one crore rupees into various accounts while evading detection.
Influence of ‘Money Heist’
Inspired by the popular ‘Money Heist’ web series, the criminals not only adopted aliases corresponding to characters from the show but also joined over 15 groups on platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram using these fabricated identities. Much like the characters in the series, they went to great lengths to hide their true identities, using fake SIM cards and international mobile numbers.
A real-life ‘Money Heist’
The web series ‘Money Heist’ revolves around a team of individuals who unite under the guidance of their enigmatic leader, Professor Sergio Marquina, to orchestrate elaborate heists. Drawing inspiration from the show, the real-life culprits emulated this concept, adopting not only aliases but even cities’ names to obscure their true intentions.
As the investigation unfolds, the arrest of these cyber criminals sheds light on the increasing sophistication of modern-day scams and the alarming ease with which individuals can be duped.
The influence of popular culture, like the ‘Money Heist’ web series, only adds to the intrigue of their criminal activities. It is a stark reminder of the need for heightened cybersecurity awareness and the critical role of law enforcement agencies in safeguarding individuals against such cunning schemes.
