Bengal Judicial Magistrate duped of 92,000 in the name of hotel booking, accused nabbed from Rajasthan

Justice Somshuvra Ghoshal, a Judicial Magistrate, fell victim to cyber fraud while booking a hotel online to visit Puri with his family. He was scammed by an unknown person who claimed to be part of the booking procedure and asked him to transfer ₹92,000 for the booking. However, after a few days, Justice Ghoshal discovered that no booking had been made in his name. Upon realizing that he was a victim of fraud, he filed a complaint with the Bidhannagar Cyber Crime Police Station in October 2022.

The police initiated an investigation into the incident and found that the fraud was being carried out by creating a fake website for the hotel. Subsequently, the police raided Rajasthan's Bharatpur area and arrested the main accused, Prem Chand, who had received the transferred funds.

The accused will be produced in Bidhannagar court after he was brought to Kolkata on transit remand. The Bidhannagar Cyber Crime Police is also investigating whether others are involved in the fraud cycle.

The incident highlights the growing threat of cyber fraud and the need for people to be cautious while making online transactions. It is essential to verify the authenticity of websites and to be wary of anyone claiming to be part of the booking process. Justice Ghoshal's experience shows that even those in positions of authority can be victims of cybercrime, emphasizing the need for greater awareness and vigilance.