Pune: The Cyber Crime Cell has arrested a fraudster who made away with the cell phone of a Pune-based woman on the pretext of purchasing it by using e-commerce website OLX. The accused has been arrested by police on Wednesday from his residence located at Panvel.
The accused has been identified as Vishal Sharma, 33, a resident of Sairaj Apartment in Panvel. His modus operandi was to contact people who advertised in order to sell their mobile phones on OLX. He used to identify himself with a fictitious name to the potential seller and then used to meet him/her in person in order to discuss the deal. However, during the meetings, he used to take the cell phone of his victim to make a call citing the reason for the non-operative condition of his cell phone and then used to escape from the spot.
The incident came to light after a Pune-based woman approached the police after being robbed by Sharma. The accused contacted the complainant who wanted to sell her phone and put an advertisement regarding it on OLX. He introduced himself by the fictitious name of Aditya Malhotra and showed his interest in purchasing the cell phone of the complainant.
According to the Cyber Crime Cell, to discuss the deal, the accused called victim at Modern Cafe on Jangli Maharaj. During the meeting, he pretended to make a call from his phone and then requested the complainant to allow him to use her phone. But when the complainant gave her phone to him, he came out of the café and disappeared.
The Cybercrime cell started a probe after receiving the complaint and found out that Sharma has a few more cases of similar nature against him at Rabale police station in Navi Mumbai and Bhadrakali police station in Nashik. The police have booked the accused under section 379 ( A punishment for snatching) and 420 ( cheating ) of IPC. The police are further investigating to find his role in more cases.
