Fraud Unmasked: Odisha Impersonation Scam Busted

Police arrested two individuals for posing as vigilance officers and extorting money from officials in Odisha. The accused, Ganesh Prasad Nanda and Pradeep Kumar Panda, targeted government officers, threatening raids over fake asset allegations. They extorted up to Rs 4 lakh per victim, with ongoing investigations revealing numerous bank accounts and deception methods.

In a significant breakthrough, police on Friday apprehended two men accused of impersonating vigilance officials in Odisha to conduct a widespread extortion scheme. The suspects, identified as Ganesh Prasad Nanda and his brother-in-law Pradeep Kumar Panda, reportedly threatened government officers to extort large sums of money.

According to Rourkela SP Nitesh Wadhwani, the alleged fraudsters deceived officials by posing as high-ranking officers and accusing them of false asset-related charges to demand money. Their ruse involved pretending to have influence over ongoing investigations and convincing victims to pay up to Rs 4 lakh to avoid fictional consequences.

As investigations continue, evidence, including 38 debit cards, passbooks, and mobile phones, has been recovered, shedding light on the extent of the scam. Police are delving deeper into the fraudulent activities, analyzing financial transactions and seeking further victims in several districts affected by this operation.