The Uttarakhand Special Task Force (STF) has arrested a cyber fraudster accused of duping a Dehradun resident of ₹12.46 lakh through an OLX scam. The accused, identified as Sharif Mohammad from Bharatpur, Rajasthan, had been absconding for nearly a year and was finally traced to the Khoh Nagoria area of Jaipur, about 300 km from his home.
The case dates back to 2022, when the victim had posted an advertisement on OLX to rent out his house. The fraudster, posing as a CISF personnel, convinced the victim of his identity by sharing fake Aadhaar and ID cards. He then misled the victim by claiming that paramilitary rules required landlords to deposit an advance amount before renting property. Believing this, the victim transferred ₹12.46 lakh into multiple bank accounts.
An investigation led by Inspector Vikas Bhardwaj confirmed evidence against the accused, and a non-bailable warrant was issued by the court. Despite repeatedly evading arrest, the STF tracked his location and apprehended him in Jaipur. During interrogation, Mohammad admitted he had been hiding to avoid arrest while continuing cyber frauds using fake IDs, multiple SIM cards, and different bank accounts.
