Six men who were allegedly part of a team operating from Jamtara district of Jharkhand and cheating Kolkatans by sending them text messages asking them to clear electricity bills or face disconnection was arrested in northeast Kolkata’s Rajarhat on Thursday.
Police said the group’s alleged role was to mainly withdraw from ATMs money that was siphoned by their counterparts in Jamtara and other parts of West Bengal.
“The six are from Giridih and Dhanbad. They were staying in a rented apartment in Rajarhat and acting on the behest of their counterparts in Jamtara,” the police said.
Last week, the police had arrested four men who were from Jamtara and had allegedly cheated at least one person in Bowbazar of Rs 2 lakh by sending a text message asking him to pay his electricity bill through an app.
The complainant had downloaded an app and made a transaction of Rs 11 on “good faith” as asked by the fraudsters, who posed as CESC officials. After that, Rs 2 lakh was debited from his account.
“Based on the complaint, four men were arrested. Later, during investigation, another six men have been arrested who were entrusted with the job of withdrawing the siphoned money from ATMs. They also made calls posing as electricity board officials,” said an officer.
The arrested six are between 18 and 28 years old, the police said.
An officer said those attached with the “online cheating business” in Jamtara now coming to Kolkata to “expand their business” was an alarming trend.