The Villupuram Cyber Crime police on Monday (February 10, 2025) arrested four persons on charges of cheating people from across Tamil Nadu on the pretext of offering loans at low interest rates.
The police identified the accused as V. Gopikrishnan, 36, T. Dinesh, 28, A. Natarajan, 39 — all hailing from Chennai — and A. Valarmathi, 36, of Gingee in Villupuram district.
According to the Cyber Crime police, the scamsters, who ran fake call centres, contacted the complainant Raju recently and offered him a loan at a low interest rate. They also pretended to be representatives of Infrastructure Development Finance Company (IDFC) and collected ₹8.20 lakh from the complainant in 15 instalments in the name of processing fees, document charges, and Goods and Services Tax (GST).
Realising he had been duped, Raju lodged a formal complaint with the Villupuram Cyber Crime police station, and a case was registered.
Explaining the modus operandi of the scamsters, Additional Deputy Superintendent of Police (Cyber Crime) Dinakaran said the accused hatched a plan to cheat people on the pretext of providing loans. They began by calling loan seekers from 10 fake call centres across the State and offered them loans on low interest. They also pretended to be representatives of the IDFC.
He said the kingpin Gopikrishnan was involved in several cyber fraud incidents across the State. He had adopted a new modus operandi this time and appointed gullible youth at his fake call centres, Mr. Dinakaran said. Valarmathi, one of the accused, worked as a manager in the call centre.
The telecallers would call people and ask if they needed quick loans. On ascertaining their need, the telecallers would pass their details to Gopikrishnan who would offer quick online loans at cheaper rates. After collecting all the details, the scamsters would ask the victims to deposit money, and then swindle them.
The police arrested the four persons and seized an SUV, 15 cheque books, 50 cell phones, and a passport from them. They were produced before a local court and remanded to custody.
