BENGALURU: A businessman in Bengaluru fell victim to a double scam, losing a total of Rs 1.62 crore—first to cybercriminals posing as solar plant providers and then to a fake legal firm that promised to help recover the initial amount.
The ordeal began in February when the businessman, hoping to install solar power systems, found an attractive offer online and ended up transferring Rs 1.5 crore in instalments to the fraudsters. Realising he had been duped, he turned to the internet in search of legal help.
That’s when he came across “Quickmoto Legal Service”, which claimed to offer assistance in cybercrime recovery. The representatives assured him they could retrieve the lost money—but only after he paid Rs 12.5 lakh in various fees. Tragically, this too turned out to be a scam.
One Arrested, Mastermind Abroad
Following a complaint filed via the cybercrime portal, the Central Crime Branch (CCB) launched an investigation. On Sunday, they arrested Tufail Ahmed alias Chota Ahmed Mubarak (27) from Kothanur, Tamil Nadu, who holds an engineering degree in electronics and communication.
According to the police, Tufail operated a fake legal call centre from a house in Kasturinagar, East Bengaluru, under the name India Legal Service. The gang used the VoIP platform Zoiper-5 to contact victims, impersonating legal professionals.
Tufail’s elder brother, who is reportedly based in Dubai, is believed to be the kingpin behind the racket. The duo had floated multiple fake firms to entrap victims with false promises of recovering stolen money.
More Arrests Likely
“Several tele-callers working at the call centre were aware of the fraudulent operations,” said an officer. “We expect to make more arrests soon.”
Police commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh confirmed that joint commissioner Ajay Hilori and DCP Raja Imam Kasim led the crackdown. Investigators are currently tracing financial transactions and digital footprints to uncover the full scope of the racket.
Authorities have advised the public to verify the authenticity of any legal or financial recovery services, especially those soliciting fees in advance.
