INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
HYDERABAD: Hyderabad cybercrime police blew the lid off the 712 crore investment fraud by claiming the Chinese handlers could not erase data
from one of the phones of Prakash Prajapati, the Indian associate of Chinese fraudsters, since it was in flight mode
Prakash, who was trapped by cops at an airport, landed himself in trouble by selecting flight mode in phone settings.Prakash was carrying
Initially, when he was questioned briefly, his associates from Dubai and China found that Prakash was not responding to their messages and
Suspecting that Prakash might be in the custody of security agencies, his handlers erased data from one of his phones from a remote location
"To remotely erase the data, the internet is required
Based on the analysis done from the other phone, we came to know about the different communications and the bank account details and came to
the conclusion that it was a 712 crore fraud
Had the data in the first phone not been erased, perhaps the sum of the fraud would have been much higher," sources in Hyderabad police told
Police officials said Prakash's Chinese handlers arranged a luxurious stay in Dubai where he has been staying along with his family
"Prakash comes across as a simple man
But, we have information that the handlers have provided high-end accommodation, car and other comforts in Dubai to him,"officials said
By scouring his new passport, police found out that Prakash had travelled to Dubai and China on a business visa
When police started their investigation in the investment fraud, the role of Prakash came to light
Prakash came to India on June 30 along with his wife
He dropped his wife at his native place in Gujarat and after a few days he got on to his official work of arranging more bank accounts
through his Indian associates
"We suspect there could be more Indians like Prakash who are working for the Chinese nationals in helping them arrange bank accounts," an
Police said Prakash has crypto wallets through which the Indian depositors' money was getting converted into cryptocurrency
Police said they are in the process of accessing his old passport to know his travel history
