Mumbai Police have arrested a 21-year-old tea vendor from Surat for allegedly aiding a cyber fraud racket by allowing his bank account to be used to route stolen money.
The accused, identified as Sachin Manojbhai Modanwa, was tracked down by the North Cyber Police using KYC records and transaction trails. According to officials, Modanwa runs a small tea stall in Surat and is suspected to have shared access to his bank account with fraudsters in exchange for financial gains. He was produced before a court on April 3 and has been remanded to police custody as the investigation continues.
How the scam unfolded
The case came to light after a Mumbai-based victim reported being duped of nearly Rs 41 lakh. The victim was first approached on Facebook by a woman posing as an investment advisor. The conversation later shifted to WhatsApp, where he was added to a group named “S18-Value Growth Circle”.
Police said the group appeared convincing, with several fake members sharing fabricated profit stories to gain the victim’s trust. He was eventually persuaded to download a fraudulent trading application and invest large sums over a period of time.
When the victim tried to withdraw his funds, he was allegedly asked to pay an additional Rs 83 lakh as processing charges, triggering suspicion. Realising he had been scammed, he contacted the cyber helpline and lodged a police complaint.
Bigger racket suspected
Investigators believe Modanwa acted as a “mule account holder” in a wider interstate cyber fraud network. Police suspect multiple such accounts are being used to funnel money across states and are now working to identify the masterminds behind the operation and recover the defrauded amount.
Reader’s Note: Online investment scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, often using fake profiles, fabricated success stories, and fraudulent apps. Always verify before investing, avoid unknown trading platforms, and never transfer money based on unsolicited financial advice.
