5 From Bihar Held Over Fake Fertiliser Franchise And Loan Scam
Five arrested over fake franchise and loan schemes.
Telangana police have arrested five persons from Bihar for allegedly operating an interstate cybercrime network that defrauded people across the country through fake fertiliser franchise offers and online loan schemes. Police suspect the accused are linked to 498 cybercrime complaints involving fraudulent transactions worth around Rs 3.5 crore, with nearly 90 complaints reported from Telangana.
According to police, the accused allegedly created fake websites and posed as representatives of a fertiliser company to attract people with franchise opportunities. After collecting applicants’ Aadhaar, PAN, photographs and bank details, the suspects allegedly demanded payments under different pretexts, including registration, licensing, service and franchise-transfer charges.
The case came to light after Akunuru Ganesh, a resident of Adilabad district, allegedly lost Rs 3.85 lakh after being approached by the fraudsters. Police said the accused contacted him through phone calls, WhatsApp and email and offered a fertiliser franchise. After he made an initial registration payment of Rs 50,000, the suspects allegedly extracted additional amounts through several transactions before becoming unreachable.
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A technical investigation led police to the cybercrime network allegedly operating from Bihar. Four of the arrested persons are from Nawada district, while the fifth is from Nalanda district. Police seized 10 mobile phones and Rs 70,000 in cash during the operation. Investigators also traced around Rs 8 lakh in suspected fraud proceeds in bank accounts and stock market investments, and the funds were subsequently frozen.
Police further alleged that the group was operating a fake Bajaj loan scheme aimed at people searching online for loans. The accused allegedly collected personal documents from prospective borrowers before demanding various fees. Officials cautioned that cybercriminals are increasingly using fake websites and online advertisements to target people seeking business opportunities or financial services.
The arrested persons were produced before a court and sent to judicial remand, while further investigation is underway. Police advised citizens to independently verify companies and websites before making payments and warned against sharing Aadhaar, PAN, bank details or OTPs with unknown individuals or unverified platforms. Suspected cyber fraud should be reported promptly through official cybercrime reporting channels.
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