ENTICED BY FALSE CYBER COP JOB OFFER, NINE LOSE RS 7 LAKH

A 30-year-old Naranpura resident cheated nine people out of Rs 7 lakh by promising jobs with the Cyber Crime Cell in Ahmedabad. He allegedly forged official letters and took their interviews to give the con more authenticity. After receiving a complaint, Crime Branch officials laid a trap and arrested the accused. He has been identified as Smit Pandey, a resident of Darshan Apartment in Shastrinagar. The complaint was filed by Viral Upadhyay, a 32-yearold resident of Madhurmilan Society in Nirnaynagar. Viral told police, "I had started a tuition class with my friend Smit in 2008. Two years later, we closed it down. Smit told me that he was planning to get a BE degree, then a job.

In October 2014, he got in touch saying that he had joined Cyber Crime Cell as an officer. He said he was receiving such a good salary package that his father, who is working with RAW, was looking to join the Cyber Crime cell." In March 2015, Smit reportedly told Viral that the cyber cell was looking for 20 officers. "He asked me to refer someone eligible. I gave him Rs 85,000 in instalments so that he would get me the job. My brother and friends gave Rs 85,000 per person to become officers. A week later, Smit called me and said that the cyber cell needed women officers, too. I gave my wife Avni's reference and another Rs 70,000 to secure the job."

Smit reportedly told the victims that they needed to undergo training of 3-4 months before appearing for the interview. "To train us, he began giving assignments. He asked us to patrol Relief Road, the railway station, Raikhad and others areas then send photographs of suspicious-looking people to him over Whatsapp. He claimed this was part of the interview process. Then he sent us interview letters and called us to Hotel Alok Inn near the Police Commissioner's office in Shahibaug on January 21.

He said PSI A P Sarvaiya was his senior and we would also work under the cop once selected. Smit collected three iPhones from us to update the software. He promised we will soon get i-cards and offer letters from Cyber Crime Cell," Viral said. When no news was forthcoming for a long time, Viral and others called Smit but his phone was switched of and they realised they were cheated.