Three dropouts pose as Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike officials to cheat students

BENGALURU: A gang of three persons posing as officials from the BBMP's social welfare department was arrested for allegedly luring college students and their parents by promising to get them free laptops.
The accused are Harsha M, 20, of Vidyaranyapura, Roopesh D, 18, of Vijaynagar and Mohan R, 20, of Bapujinagar. Police said the accused had noticed an advertisement issued by BBMP a few months ago, seeking applications from students for a free laptop scheme.The accused were college dropouts but were still members of a few WhatsApp student groups. The gang zeroed in on a few students as potential victims and called them up after getting their phone numbers.
The accused, by posing as BBMP officials, told the students/parents they would help them get free laptops. Ten students transferred money in the name of various fees. They lost money ranging from Rs 1,500 to Rs 45,000 each to the gang. DCP (northeast) Anoop A Shetty said the accused cheated over 10 students and as of now four cases have been registered against them. tnn