Kochi: Panangad police arrested two persons on Sunday for allegedly swindling Rs 67 lakh from a doctor from Kumbalam through online trade. The arrested are C K Abdul Rahiman, 35, and Arshad, 38, both natives of Koothuparamba in Kannur.
How the Scam Unfolded
According to police, the doctor came across an advertisement on Facebook featuring an AI-generated video of Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman promising returns three times the invested amount within three months.
Police said after clicking the link, she was directed to a website of a firm named ‘Clinet 9 Pro’ and later transferred money for trading through another link provided by them. Following their instructions, she also transferred money to the account of a Kannur-based firm, Digit Com IT Solutions.
Arrests and Investigation
Police said the duo arrested were the owners of the company. The doctor allegedly transferred the money from multiple bank accounts between Jan and March. However, neither the promised profits nor the invested amount was returned.
She subsequently lodged a complaint with Panangad police in March, following which a case was registered and an investigation was launched. “The accused are involved in similar online fraud cases in Kerala as well as in Karnataka and Mizoram,” said a senior police officer.
Ernakulam ACP K G Suresh constituted a special investigation team in connection with the case. The accused were produced before a court and were remanded in custody.
