An audacious couple in connivance with a Nigerian, are believed to have stolen at least Rs 4 lakh in a credit card scam. The Versova police have arrested the couple and the Nigerian. Those arrested have been identified as Chirag Wadhwana, 24, Alpa Sunderam, 20, both residents of Borivli and
Johnson Namjerian, 25.

While the couple, Wadhwana and Sunderam were arrested on Saturday, the Nigerian was arrested on Sunday, the police said.

According to the police, they received a tip-off that a couple who made duplicate credit cards and used them for shopping were to come to Kamdhenu Shopping Centre in Lokhandwala, Andheri (west).

Acting on this information, the police laid a trap and arrested Wadhwana and Sunderam. The police also seized the Hyundai Accent car in which the couple had driven to the mall. From the car the police recovered several duplicate credit cards, an embossing machine, a laptop and mobile phones.

During interrogation, the police learnt that the couple was involved in a scam.

They told the police that a Nigerian helped them with sensitive information on credit cards of fresh applicants or users who had lost their cards. Customers who had ordered for a new international credit card or those who had applied for renewal were especially targeted. This information would be embossed on the fake credit cards with a magnetic strip.

Police said that hours before the the card was delivered to the customer, the couple would get a tip-off and immediately make purchases on the

fake card. The cards would be used for shopping for valuables that were later sold at a lower price. Sixty per cent of the money extracted from the resale of the valuables was handed over to the Nigerian while the couple kept the rest of the money.

“In all the cases, names on the duplicate credit cards would match those of the original user,” said KMM Prasanna, deputy commissioner of police (zone IX).

The couple had been operating for a few months and wanted to set up their own home. They used to frequently travel to Delhi where they have rented an apartment.

The trio has been remanded in police custody.

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