Lisa Roth, a US resident, fell victim to a cyber fraud on July 4, 2023, when she received a call from someone claiming to be a "Microsoft agent." The caller convinced her to transfer $400,000 to a cryptocurrency wallet, resulting in a loss of approximately ₹3.3 crore.
A year later, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Lakshya Vij, a bookie, and cryptocurrency handler from Delhi, in connection with the scam.
Lakshya, who resides in Dilshad Garden, east Delhi, had previously been arrested by the Gujarat Police in March last year, but was allegedly released with the help of a senior officer from the Delhi Police.
Investigations revealed that the money transferred by Ms. Roth ended up in the wallets of Praful Gupta and his mother Sarita Gupta.
Further inquiries indicated that a man named Karan Chug received funds from Gupta and distributed them into various cryptocurrency wallets.
The funds were eventually converted into cryptocurrency and distributed into different Indian accounts under the direction of Karan and Lakshya. The laundered money was then used on betting apps like Fair Play 24.
The ED, investigating the money laundering aspect of the case, conducted multiple raids last month, recovering digital evidence and recording statements from the owners of the crypto wallets involved in the fraud.
Lakshya has been identified as the mastermind behind the operation. He was produced in Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court and has been remanded to a 5-day custody with the Enforcement Directorate for further investigation.
