The Delhi Cyber Crime police arrested over 20 people in connection with an online Ola scooter scam, in which over 1,000 persons were reportedly swindled of crores of rupees. The gang was caught from various parts of the country including Bengaluru, Gurugram and Patna, Devesh Mahla, Deputy Commissioner of Police for Delhi (Outer North) said on October 14.
The DCP said that on October 7, one of the victims filed a complaint about how he was cheated through an online scooty scam. According to the police, two individuals in Bengaluru created a fake website for Ola electric scooters and targeted customers looking to purchase one. The Bengaluru men then used to share the victim's mobile number and other information with their other gang members spread across the country as soon as their information was posted on the website.
The victims were first called by the Bihar and Telangana gang members, who instructed them to make an online transfer of Rs 499 in order to reserve an Ola scooter, according to the police. The gang members then demanded transfers of between Rs 60,000 and 70,000 in several instalments as payment for the scooter's insurance and transportation costs.
According to a report by livemint, the complaint filed by one of the victims said he had attempted to reserve an Ola electric scooter on September 26 via the Ola app because that was the only way to buy one. He was seeking finance options, and was unable to finish the process. He then received a call from a person who claimed to be working at Ola and the caller explained how to buy the scooter without reserving it through the official website. The victim received a second call from the same individual, who led him through the booking procedure and demanded Rs 499. After the initial payment, the scammers mailed the victim asking for more money as down payment, equated monthly instalments (EMIs) and transportation charges.