Nigerian national held for cheating

A Nigerian national was arrested here for allegedly claiming association with British Deputy High Commission and subsequently deceiving a Kerala-based man with an executive job at a reputed hotel in UK, police said today.
Chima John Emmanuel, a Nigerian who impersonated self as Peter Beckingham and claimed to be associated with the Commission here, was tracked down at Nalasopara in neighbouring Thane district on last Monday, Jaywant Darekar with Economic Offence Wing (EOW), Mumbai Police said.
"The accused was caught from Nalasopara after the analysis of his phone call records indicated he holed up there. He was produced before a court which remanded him in police custody till Saturday," the officer added.

The enquiries revealed that Peter Beckingham, who was the British Deputy High Commissioner for Western India, his name was misused by the accused to trick his victims, Darekar added.
Throwing light on the modus operandi of the accused, the officer said, "Emmanuel used to advertise fictitious job opportunities in the United Kingdom with reputed hotels and other business entities on website OLX.COM, introducing self as Peter Beckingham."
After receiving resumes from job seekers, the accused used to send offer letters on false and fabricated letterheads.

The accused then contacted the job seekers to deposit certain amount of cash in bank accounts opened with fake names in various states including Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.

In this case, victim Abhilash Tuttil (26) was offered a General Manager's job in a posh hotel in the UK. "After receiving an offer letter and VISA processing form, Tuttil deposited cash of Rs 36,500 in a bank at Bandra here last month."
The cash was immediately withdrawn in two different transactions and the victim was again asked to deposit Rs 49,000, saying that it would be used to check his criminal background, Darekar said.
"Sensing suspicion, the victim came to Mumbai and enquired with British mission about Peter Beckingham. The authorities claimed that Beckingham used to work earlier and the Commission does not make any such job offers," the officer added.

Realising that he was cheated, the victim subsequently approached the EOW which registered the complaint on September 26.
"The accused was arrested and we suspect involvement of more people in the racket," the officer said.