The UP Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) has arrested two Chinese nationals, recognized as Pochnli Tengli alias Li Teng alias Alice and Xu Xunfu alias Julahi, in reference to monetary fraud after they allegedly purchased SIM playing cards with solid paperwork.
The two have been held in Noida on Saturday primarily based on info supplied by 14 individuals arrested on January 17 in reference to a monetary rip-off.
In an announcement on Sunday, the ATS stated, “The ATS, Uttar Pradesh, got information that a gang is conspiring and is procuring SIM cards on fake IDs and then are opening online bank accounts. They were exchanging money after indulging in cheating through the accounts. The money was being forwarded for use in criminal activities. When the information was verified and checked, it came to the fore that some criminals had opened bank accounts putting in fake details in different banks. These bank accounts were receiving money from an unidentified source which was being drawn by different means. With regard to this, the ATS had on January 17 made 14 arrests. A red-corner notice and a blue-corner notice were issued against the absconding Chinese accused, who were arrested from Noida on Saturday.”
The ATS stated throughout preliminary questioning it got here to mild that the Chinese used to acquire pre-activated SIM playing cards from distributors and retailers after these handed by way of a number of individuals in Delhi.
“The pre-activated SIM cards used to be made available to the manager of a hotel owned by a Chinese couple in Gurgaon. One of them [the couple] used to stay in China, and the accused were connected to them through WeChat,” learn the assertion.
The ATS added, “On directions of the owners of the hotel, the OTP for WhatsApp registration was shared with the Chinese nationals. The two accused do not know who was using the 150 activated WhatsApp numbers and where they were being used.”
An ATS officer stated it was nonetheless not clear the place the WhatsApp, for which OTPs have been shared, accounts have been getting used because the messaging app is just not utilized in China. “China does not have WhatsApp, and we are still trying to unearth where the WhatsApp was being used,” the officer added.
The ATS stated until date the 2 accused had given 1,000 pre-activated SIM playing cards to the resort house owners. According to the squad, Li Teng alias Alice’s enterprise visa expired in September 2020, whereas Xu Xunfu’s enterprise visa expired the month earlier than that.
An officer stated the 2 can be introduced in courtroom and their remand can be hunted for questioning.
“The fake bank accounts were opened in people’s names without their knowledge using pre-activated SIM cards. Then, money was sent to these accounts and was transferred to these bank accounts and was withdrawn through cardless transactions. We are still probing where the money was being used. We are also still unearthing the different layers in the scam. There are a total of 12 layers that have come to light till now. All these things will become clear in the coming days,” stated the ATS officer.
