Cybercriminals targeting govt teachers busted, fake BSA officers held

Varanasi: Mau police have busted an inter-state cybercrime gang for allegedly scamming around 90 govt teachers out of Rs 2 crore. Two scammers have been arrested for posing as BSA officers to extort money.

The case came to light on Feb 16, when Chinta Devi, an assistant teacher at Composite Vidyalaya Riyav Dohrighat, got a call from someone claiming a cancer-afflicted teacher in Lucknow would get her spot unless she paid Rs 50,000. Fearing the caller’s threats, Chinta Devi transferred the amount to the specified scanner. Later, when she tried calling the number, it was switched off. Her daughter, Roli, lodged a complaint at the Ghosi police station on Mar 21.

Based on the complaint, a case under Section 308(2) of BNS and 66C/66D of IT Act was registered. A joint team tracked down Narendra Pal and Saurabh Pal, both from Bareilly, using physical and electronic evidence. They were arrested from their homes on Sunday and brought to Ghosi police station, where they were formally booked on Monday morning.

Narendra revealed during questioning that he scraps the net for news on state teachers. If a teacher’s complaint, inquiry, or transfer pops up, he hunts down the gram pradhan’s contact and calls them. He then asks the gram pradhan to share his number with the teacher, claiming he is the Secondary Education Board secretary PRO or BSA officer. The gram pradhan, falling for his deception, gives his number to the teacher. When the teacher calls his number seeking information, he demands money in exchange for getting the pending inquiry closed and sends a scanner via WhatsApp.

Narendra further spilled the beans, saying he uses accounts arranged by his aides, Saurabh and Vikram, to get the money deposited, and they give him the cash after taking a cut. Saurabh backed up his story.
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