CBI registers case against accused of duping US citizen, seizes cryptocurrencies worth USD 9.3 lakh

New Delhi [India]: The Central Bureau of Investigation has registered a case against an accused of duping a United States citizen over the phone.

It was alleged that the said accused (an Indian National) contacted a US citizen over the phone under the pseudonymous identity of “James Carlson”, introducing himself from a Fraud Department of a Multi-National Company falsely informing the victim that someone had been trying to order a computer using Account of the victim (as available on said MNC).

It was further alleged that the accused also misguided the victim that people in four different States had used the Social Security Number of the victim to open Accounts of said MNC.

It was also alleged that the accused induced the victim to withdraw cash from his bank accounts and deposit the same in Bitcoin at Rocket Coin ATM Wallet and shared a QR code falsely informing him that the same was opened by the US Treasury for the victim.

The accused also emailed a fake letter dated September 20, 2022, purportedly issued by the Federal Trade Commission, USA to gain the trust of the victim.

In pursuance of the said inducement, the victim allegedly withdrew an amount of USD 1,30,000 from his bank accounts on different dates during the period August 30, 2022, to September 9, 2022, and deposited the same in the Bitcoin address provided by the accused.

Subsequently, the same were fraudulently misappropriated by the accused, thereby defrauding the victim to the extent of USD 1,30,000. The inputs were received from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, USA.

Searches were conducted at the premises of the accused in Ahmedabad which led to the recovery and seizure of cryptocurrencies– Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, USDT, worth 9.3 lakh US Dollars (approx.) from the crypto wallets of the accused and incriminating material.

During searches, the involvement of two other persons, both residents of Ahmedabad has also surfaced. Therefore, searches were also conducted at the premises of said persons which resulted in the recovery of mobile phones, laptops containing incriminating material, etc.

Further investigation is underway.