Two Arrested for Online Mobile Sale Fraud

Kathmandu. An advertisement came on Facebook and TikTok accounts named 'Shakir Mobile' offering iPhones at very cheap prices. A person working in a company in Kathmandu saw the advertisement where an iPhone-15 Pro Max could be bought for Rs 65,000. Then, through that advertisement, he came in contact with the seller. The advertisement mentioned that the mobile shop was located in Tulsipur, Dang. The person who wanted to buy asked, 'How and when will I get the mobile?' The reply came from the other side, 'Our goods are always going by courier, send the amount via QR, you will get the goods by tomorrow evening.' After the seller suggested sending money through mobile banking, the person transferred Rs 65,000. However, when he tried to contact the seller the next day to inquire about the mobile's whereabouts, the seller had already blocked him. Based on the information from the victim, the District Police Complex Kathmandu has arrested two people who were running a fraud business under the guise of 'Shakir Mobile' shop. Those arrested are 21-year-old Dilip Tamang, a resident of Birtamod Municipality-4, Jhapa, currently living in Kathmandu, and 23-year-old Ashutosh Oli, a resident of Birtamod-3, also living in Kathmandu. The victim was defrauded because the 256 GB iPhone-15 Pro Max was not available at such a cheap price elsewhere, and he fell for the temptation. To deceive customers, the accused used to claim that the mobile set was 'unopened'. The accused involved in the fraud used to edit mobile advertisements posted by mobile sellers in Kathmandu's Tamrakar Complex using the video editing app 'CapCut' and add voiceovers. An officer involved in the investigation said, 'They used to edit the videos, mention a low price where a high price was stated, and post it on their page. Victims used to fall for the temptation after seeing advertisements for cheap prices and home delivery.' It has been found that some people living abroad also contact Shakir Mobile through Facebook and TikTok to give 'surprises' to their relatives in Nepal. An officer from the District Police Complex Kathmandu, who is investigating the incident, said, 'It has been found that the accused used to urge customers to pay the full amount at first, and if not, they would ask for a 50 percent advance payment, stating that the mobile could not be held without it, and would ask them to deposit the money.'

Lodging in an Apartment, Payment through Circumvention

The accused Tamang and Oli were living in an apartment in Boudha, paying a monthly rent of Rs 75,000. However, they were arrested from Thamel on Jestha 26. SP Pawan Bhattarai of the District Police Complex Kathmandu told Ratopati that they were arrested while staying at a hotel in Thamel. Police investigation has revealed that they were receiving money through indirect means under the guise of selling mobiles. The investigation has found that the accused used to ask for QR codes used by crypto traders and bettors and ask the victims to transfer money to those QR codes. After confirming that the victims had transferred the money, they would transfer 'USDT' to their accounts by giving a certain commission to the crypto traders and bettors. Investigating officers say that they find sites that make payments through the Binance app in our market. They find people and ask them to transfer money to the accounts specified by them, and by giving a commission to the account operators, they receive money in USDT and commit fraud. It has been found that the accused Tamang and Oli use '1xBet' and those who do crypto transactions through the 'Binance app'. An officer involved in the investigation said, 'Those who transact through the Binance app transfer money to these accused in crypto or to the bank accounts they specify.' Police officers say that the investigation has become complicated because the fraud business is being run by making payments into the accounts of those who play betting through 1xBet. The investigation has revealed that the accused have defrauded about 200 people so far. According to SP Bhattarai, they have admitted to taking money from about 200 individuals so far in the name of mobile payment. The police say that the defrauded money has already been spent by them. According to police officers involved in the investigation, the money has not been found in their accounts. An officer involved in the investigation said, 'Money has not been found in the apartment where the accused live or in their bank accounts.'