Rajat Lall
Authorities in South Andaman have uncovered a sophisticated online scam that duped a local resident out of nearly ₹10 lakh through a fraudulent gold mining investment scheme. The case, which has prompted swift police action, sheds light on a growing pattern of digital financial frauds targeting unsuspecting victims through social media and messaging platforms.
The victim, a resident of Sri Vijaya Puram, was first contacted via WhatsApp by an unknown number offering what appeared to be a legitimate part-time job. This interaction led to a second contact, identified as “Dhanya Ravindran,” who introduced a high-return investment opportunity in gold mining.
Authorities say the fraudsters directed the victim to an online platform designed to appear as a professional investment site. After an initial investment of ₹10,500 yielded a cashback of ₹15,989, the victim was persuaded to make larger deposits, eventually transferring ₹9,78,112 in multiple transactions. Communication ceased abruptly once the larger sums were transferred, and the victim received no further returns.
Police response and partial recovery
The Cyber Crime Unit, according to senior officials, launched an immediate investigation upon receiving the complaint. Sub-Inspector Dinesh Kumar Jiswal, who led the initial response, traced the funds to a primary bank account used by the fraudsters. Within 30 minutes, authorities were able to freeze the account and recover ₹48,600.
“The prompt freezing of the account was critical in salvaging a portion of the victim’s funds,” Jiswal told The Wave Andaman. “However, the bulk of the money had already been siphoned into a network of third-party or ‘mule’ accounts.” Two formal cases have since been registered: one, a complaint under the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP) for the recovered ₹48,600, and another, an FIR for ₹5,08,073, which is currently under investigation by SI Karthick from the Cyber Crime Department.
Suspect identified
Investigators have confirmed that “Dhanya Ravindran” is an alias, and the individual operating the account is not based in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. According to officials, the suspect is from mainland India, though their exact location is being withheld due to operational sensitivities. A team has been deployed to apprehend the individual.
Preliminary findings suggest that the scam may be part of a larger, organized racket involving money laundering and digital impersonation.
Charges have been framed under Section 318(4) and Section 319(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, covering offences related to cheating, dishonesty, and fraudulent inducement. Investigators are following digital trails to identify additional accomplices and determine if similar cases have occurred elsewhere.
Advisory issued
A senior official from the Cyber Crime Unit issued a public advisory warning against online job and investment scams. “Fraudsters are becoming increasingly adept at manipulating people emotionally and financially,” the official said. “If it looks too good to be true, it probably is. Citizens should verify unknown offers, avoid suspicious websites, and never share personal information without due diligence.”
Authorities have urged residents to report digital frauds through the National Cybercrime Portal or at the nearest police station. As the probe continues, the administration is working to strengthen public awareness campaigns and encourage financial institutions to step up real-time transaction monitoring.
The case is being seen as a wake-up call for digital vigilance, with law enforcement pushing for broader cooperation to combat the rise in cyber-enabled crimes across the region.
