Police in Panchkula, India, have arrested a Nigerian and a Zimbabwean national for allegedly duping a 63-year-old retired Central Government officer of Rs 13.10 lakh (approximately $15,700 USD) through a sophisticated cyber fraud operation. The arrests were made on Sunday, July 13, 2026, following directions from Police Commissioner Pankaj Nain.
Arrests and Background of Accused
The Zimbabwean suspect, identified as Tapuwa, was residing in India on a student visa, while the Nigerian suspect, Kenneth, was staying on a medical visa. Both were taken into custody by the cyber crime police in Bahadurgarh after a technical investigation traced their involvement. The accused were produced before a court and remanded to five days of police custody for further interrogation.
How the Scam Unfolded
The victim, a retired officer from Panchkula, filed a complaint on the National Cyber Crime Portal on February 20, 2026. According to the complaint, in December 2025, he was contacted on Facebook by a woman claiming to be living in the United Kingdom. The woman introduced him to another person, whom she said was her relative, and together they convinced the victim to invest in a pharmaceutical business. They promised returns of three times the investment amount, luring him with the prospect of high profits.
Between December 2025 and February 2026, the complainant transferred a total of Rs 13.10 lakh to various bank accounts provided by the fraudsters. However, he neither received any pharmaceutical products nor any promised profits. The accused had created fake identities of women from the UK on WhatsApp to build trust and deceive the victim.
Police Investigation and Recovery
Acting on the complaint, a police team conducted a technical investigation that led them to Bahadurgarh, where Tapuwa and Kenneth were arrested. The accused surrendered the mobile phones and SIM cards used in committing the cyber fraud. The case highlights the growing threat of cross-border cyber crime targeting vulnerable individuals, especially senior citizens.
Police Commissioner Pankaj Nain emphasized the importance of vigilance against online scams and urged citizens to verify investment opportunities before transferring money. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are probing possible links to larger fraud networks.
