Bengaluru Police Arrest Teen for Impersonating IAS, IPS Officers in Online Fraud

Bengaluru police have apprehended a juvenile accused of running an online fraud by impersonating senior civil servants and police officers. The suspect allegedly created fake Facebook accounts in the names of IAS and IPS officers to gain the trust of unsuspecting victims before demanding money.

The investigation began after a person from another state filed a complaint at the Hebbagodi police station. The complainant had been cheated through a fake account that used the name and photograph of the Electronics City sub-division Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Narayan. The accused reportedly sent friend requests to the officer's acquaintances and the public, then approached them for money.

Following the complaint, police traced the fraudulent operation to Kotakurd village in Rajasthan. A juvenile was taken into custody after his parents were served notice on August 24. During questioning, the teen admitted that he and his associates had created several fake profiles of senior officials. They used these accounts to build trust and then sought money on various pretexts, including offering household items at unusually low prices.

Police recovered ₹2 lakh in cash from the juvenile, believed to be proceeds from the fraud routed through mule bank accounts. Authorities suspect several others are involved in the racket and are working to identify and arrest them. The juvenile was produced before the Juvenile Justice Board on August 25 and sent to an observation home.

Police have urged the public to be cautious of social media accounts impersonating senior officials. They advise verifying the identity of anyone requesting money online and reporting suspicious activity immediately.