Seven Arrested in Ghaziabad for Fake Motor Insurance Scam
Ghaziabad Crime Branch busts a gang that swindled over Rs 60 lakh through fake motor insurance policies via fraudulent Google Ads.
In a major crackdown on digital deception, the Ghaziabad Crime Branch has apprehended seven individuals involved in a sophisticated nationwide cyber fraud operation. The gang is accused of swindling victims of more than Rs 60 lakh by issuing fraudulent motor insurance policies through a fake call centre.
The Modus Operandi: Google Ads and Fake Policies
The investigation, led by Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Balwant Chaudhary, revealed a highly organized conspiracy. The primary accused, identified as Deepak Khanna, along with accomplices Rahul and Neeraj Bhati, established a fraudulent call centre designed to mimic legitimate insurance services.
To lure unsuspecting citizens, the gang utilized Google Ads, running advertisements in the name of a well-known insurance company. By using forged email accounts, they created a veneer of legitimacy, promoting highly attractive and affordable insurance premiums to catch the attention of vehicle owners.
A Nationwide Web of Deceit
Once victims clicked on the advertisements, the fraudsters engaged them with false promises. They would eventually provide the victims with fake policy documents, leading them to transfer money under the impression that they were securing genuine protection for their vehicles.
The reach of this criminal syndicate extended far beyond Ghaziabad. Police confirmed that the gang had successfully duped individuals across multiple states, including:
- Kerala
- Jharkhand
- Uttar Pradesh
- Delhi-NCR region
The scale of the scam is reflected in the official records, with more than 20 formal complaints already registered against the gang on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.
Police Operation and Recoveries
Acting on specific intelligence, law enforcement officers laid a trap that resulted in the arrest of seven suspects. During the raid, police recovered a significant cache of evidence used in their illegal operations, including:
- Multiple mobile phones
- ATM and debit cards
- Chequebooks
- Bank passbooks from various financial institutions
- Cash
While seven members of the gang are now in custody, the alleged mastermind, Deepak Kumar, a resident of Ghaziabad, managed to evade capture. Police teams have been deployed to track his movements, with officials expressing confidence that he will be apprehended shortly.