ED Attaches Assets Worth INR 6.47 Cr, INR 72 Lakh In Crypto In Yet Another Part-Time Job Fraud Case

The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has attached movable assets worth INR 6.47 Cr, including INR 71.3 Lakh in cryptocurrencies, in a part-time job fraud case that is said to have its roots linked to China. The ED has initiated investigation on the basis of an FIR registered by South CEN Police Station, Bengaluru City, in the matter.

The investigation uncovered a modus operandi under which vulnerable young individuals were allegedly being deceived by certain Chinese persons using a mobile application named “Keepsharer”. These individuals allegedly promised part-time job opportunities and collected money from the victims.

Notably, these Chinese persons established companies within India, recruiting numerous Indian nationals to serve as directors, translators, HR managers, and telecallers, the ED said in a statement.

The “Keepsharer” app purported to offer part-time job opportunities to unsuspecting youth, but it was also linked to an investment app. Money is said to have been collected from the public under the guise of investments through this app.

Per the FIR, the youth were tasked with liking videos of celebrities and sharing them on social media platforms, with INR 20 credited to their Keepsharer wallet for each completed task. Subsequently, the app was removed from the Play Store.

The attached amount is said to be related to six companies — Toningworld International Private Limited, Ansol Technology Private Limited, Redraccoon Services India Private Limited, Energico Digital Private Limited, Bridge Tera Technologies Private Limited, Ashenfallous Technologies Private Limited — and nine others individuals.

The funds collected through this scam were allegedly funnelled through the bank accounts of these companies and individuals and then converted into cryptocurrency, which was subsequently transferred to China-based cryptocurrency exchanges.

Earlier, the ED said, search operations were conducted on 12 entities involved in this case, which resulted in the seizure of INR 5.85 Cr under section 17 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

The ED is investigating several cases related to cryptocurrency frauds wherein a few Indian crypto exchanges have been alleged of being involved in money laundering.

Meanwhile, the Odisha Economic Offences Wing (EOW) is reportedly set to quiz Bollywood actor Govinda into an INR 1,000 Cr online ponzi scheme.

The actor had endorsed a company, Solar Techno Alliance, which is alleged to have been illegally operating an online ponzi scheme under the guise of a cryptocurrency investment scheme.

Last month, Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary informed the Lok Sabha that the ED had seized proceeds amounting to INR 1,144 Cr and arrested 20 people in various cases related to cryptocurrency or virtual digital assets frauds.