Bhubaneswar, 11 August (H.S.): The Odisha Crime Branch has busted a cyber fraud racket allegedly targeting prospective buyers through fake second-hand car advertisements on Facebook Marketplace and arrested one person in connection with the case, officials said on Tuesday.

The arrested accused has been identified as Shubhendra Rout, a Bhubaneswar-based travel agency operator.

According to the Crime Branch, the case was registered after a complainant came across a used-car advertisement on Facebook Marketplace and contacted the person posing as a car agent. The accused allegedly persuaded the victim to make online payments towards the purchase. However, after the payment was made in full, the vehicle was neither delivered nor was the money refunded.

During the investigation, the Crime Branch traced ₹3.80 lakh transferred to a bank account allegedly linked to Rout in connection with the fraud.

Investigators have also uncovered the involvement of at least four other suspects, who are currently absconding. The racket is suspected to have an interstate network, with similar fraudulent activities allegedly carried out beyond Odisha.

The Crime Branch is conducting further investigation to identify and apprehend the remaining suspects and trace the funds allegedly collected from other victims.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda