Three arrested for cheating people

"25-year-old Ketan Verma, Nizam Khan alias Bobby, 27 and Shahid Ansari, 51 -- all residents of Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh -- were arrested recently from the city after police received a complaint in August and traced their whereabouts through the bank accounts in which they used to ask their victims to deposit money," said Sanjay Kumar Jain, DCP Crime Branch.

Police has recovered 15 automated teller machine (ATM) cards, being used by them for withdrawal of money, one cheque book and four mobile phones from them.

They used to remain in contact with their associates in foreign countries through these mobile phones through SMSes.

During interrogation, the accused said that they used to target innocent persons across the country by making calls through international mobile numbers and tell them that "their mobile number has won an award of Rs 25 lakh," the official said.

To receive the amount, the victims were asked to deposit an amount of Rs 15,000 or Rs 20,000 in the account numbers given by them.

"They used to make calls to a large number of people in India and some of them were trapped.

"The India-based gang members used to arrange fake bank accounts along with ATM cards obtained fraudulently from the account holders.

"Verma earlier worked as storekeeper in Air Force but he got over burdened with heavy dues due to his lavish style. He ran away from job and met his childhood friend Khan who was already in this illegal business of cheating and joined his racket.

"Ansari, who was a tailor, joined the racket due to poor financial condition," said the officer.