A cyber fraud investigation in Gujarat has led Rajkot Rural Cybercrime Police to a suspected syndicate operating from Greater Noida. 3 foreign nationals were arrested and brought to Jasdan on transfer warrants: Josephine Yaa Ansah, alias Angel, 28, from Ghana; Mgengeli Imani Denis, 22, from Tanzania; and Philip Batista Joseph Valentine, 23, from South Sudan.
Police said the visas of all 3 accused had expired and suspect they became involved in criminal activities to delay deportation.
The fraud began in May 2026 when a farmer accepted a Facebook request from an account named “Mary M Samuel”. The person claimed to be the CEO of an overseas real estate company and moved the conversation to WhatsApp. After building regular contact and trust, she claimed to be a grieving widow looking for a new beginning and expressed an interest in marrying him.
She later said she was sending an expensive parcel for her daughter’s birthday. Using the shipping process, the fraudster obtained the farmer’s address and government identity documents. An accomplice then posed as a Delhi Airport customs official and demanded fees to release the package.
The scammers claimed the parcel contained €30,000 in cash, a gold chain, a laptop, a wristwatch and an iPhone. The victim eventually transferred Rs 6.31 lakh through several transactions for alleged customs duty, currency conversion and clearance charges.
After the parcel never arrived and further payments were demanded, the farmer discovered that the supposed Delhi courier company did not exist. He filed a complaint on the national cyber fraud portal on June 2, 2026.
Police registered a case under Sections 318(4), 61(2), 319(2) and 54 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with the Information Technology Act.
“Our cyber team executed an extensive technical analysis encompassing social media profiles, mobile numbers, WhatsApp logs, bank transactions, and IP routing data,” said Rajkot Superintendent of Police Vijay Singh Gurjar. “The digital footprint pinpointed the suspects’ location to Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, leading to their immediate apprehension,” he added.
Police seized 3 mobile phones, 3 passports, active SIM cards and other digital equipment. 2 suspects had entered India on student visas, while the 3rd held a short-term visa. All had expired.
Police allege Ansah targeted male victims on social media by presenting herself as a widow. The male suspects allegedly handled cash withdrawals, arranged rented bank accounts and managed fund transfers.
Inspector Ravi Godham said police have frozen 15 bank accounts linked to the syndicate and blocked around Rs 78,000 so far. Investigators are tracing the middlemen who provided the rented accounts and the woman who allegedly posed as the customs officer.
Also read: Viksit Workforce for a Viksit Bharat
Do Follow: The Mainstream LinkedIn | The Mainstream Facebook | The Mainstream Youtube | The Mainstream Twitter
About us:
The Mainstream is a premier platform delivering the latest updates and informed perspectives across the technology business and cyber landscape. Built on research-driven, thought leadership and original intellectual property, The Mainstream also curates summits & conferences that convene decision makers to explore how technology reshapes industries and leadership. With a growing presence in India and globally across the Middle East, Africa, ASEAN, the USA, the UK and Australia, The Mainstream carries a vision to bring the latest happenings and insights to 8.2 billion people and to place technology at the centre of conversation for leaders navigating the future.