Cuttack: The Crime Branch of Odisha Police has apprehended two individuals in connection with an elaborate online gaming betting scam that defrauded a Jajpur resident of over Rs 1 crore. The arrested accused have been identified as Rohan alias Sk Wasiul Islam (29) from West Bengal and Jyoti Prakash Pallai (36) of Bhubaneswar.
The arrests stem from a complaint lodged on May 1st this year by a victim from the Kalinganagar area of Jajpur. The victim reported being swindled out of a staggering Rs 1,08,79,420 between August 2022 and January 2025 through a sophisticated online cricket betting scheme.
According to the Crime Branch, the fraudsters lured the victim via fake links to what appeared to be legitimate cricket betting websites, namely www.dream444.com and www.dream666.com. The victim initially started with small payments, as little as Rs 1,000, through PhonePe, but quickly became addicted to the allure of potentially doubling or tripling their money.
“The fraudsters skillfully persuaded him to transfer increasingly larger sums, leading him to drain his own account, his wife’s account, and even accounts belonging to his friends and staff,” a police official stated.
It was only after 2.5 years that the victim realized the elaborate nature of the scam and promptly lodged a First Information Report (FIR) at the Cyber PS, CID, CB.
The investigating team, spearheaded by DSP Anila Anand, launched a detailed technical probe and digital surveillance. Their efforts were part of a broader crackdown, acting on multiple complaints registered through the national 1930 Cyber Helpline and the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (www.cybercrime.gov.in).
Police revealed that the accused were operating a network of fake gaming platforms and phishing websites. These sites were not only used for illicit betting but also served as a means to steal sensitive banking and personal data, which was then used to open “mule” bank accounts for transferring the ill-gotten gains.
Based on compelling digital evidence, the Crime Branch team successfully tracked down and apprehended the two accused. Authorities have seized significant incriminating articles from their possession, including passbooks, cheque books, mobile phones, SIM cards, GST certificates, Aadhaar cards, and PAN cards, all of which confirm their involvement in the cyber fraud.
Furthermore, several bank accounts linked to the fraudsters have been frozen by the police. The investigation into the case is ongoing, with authorities working to identify any other individuals involved and to recover the defrauded funds.