Surat: In a joint operation, the Surat police economic cell, Cybercrime and crime branch have busted an international virtual diamond heist worth Rs 5 crore, arresting two persons from a gang of ten. Over the past few months, six diamond traders from Surat reportedly lost seven valuable diamonds in the fraud. The accused posed as employees of U.S.-based diamond firms and used virtual US WhatsApp numbers to execute the scam.Police have arrested Nikunj Ambaliya and Mitul Goti, both from Surat, while teams have been dispatched to track down the remaining accused.DCP (economic cell) Karanraj Vaghela told the media, “We received complaints from six Surat traders stating that they had lost seven diamonds worth Rs 5 crore and failed to receive payments. The accused posed as employees of U.S. diamond firms and took delivery of the diamonds in Dubai, Hong Kong, and Bangkok. After investigations, we arrested two Nikunj Ambaliya and Mitul Goti, and identified Chetan Suthar and Anuj Shah as co-accused. These four, along with six others, conspired to cheat reputed diamond traders in an international diamond fraud.”The complaint was filed by Mahidharpura-based trader Sanjay Goti, a veteran in the business for 25 years. Goti regularly listed his high-value diamonds on Rapnet, an international trading platform accessible only to verified traders and buyers for an annual fee. In May, he received a WhatsApp call from a U.S. number—the caller identified himself as Arson Isaco, a buyer representing a U.S. firm. Isaco expressed interest in purchasing one of Goti’s diamonds listed on Rapnet, valued at Rs 81 lakh ($90,000).To verify the buyer, Goti contacted seven Surat diamond firms, who confirmed that such a buyer existed in the U.S. firm. Trusting the credentials, Goti shipped the diamond to Dubai on June 7, on a seven-day payment condition. However, when the payment deadline arrived, Isaco began giving excuses and eventually switched off his phone.Upon further inquiry in the Surat diamond market, Goti discovered that five other traders—Harshil Mehta, Vinay Kediya, Rahil Mehta, Jagdish Talaviya, and Ashok Gejera—had also been duped by men posing as Gabi Hacker, Arson Isaco, and Navid, claiming to represent US. diamond firms.“The accused had detailed knowledge of Surat’s leading traders and the diamonds they wanted to sell,” DCP Vaghela added. “They met about four months ago and devised the plan. They rented a flat in Surat, purchased dummy SIM cards, and obtained internet connections. Using virtual US numbers, they accessed buyer details from a website called Eximpedia and used photographs of real US citizens as their WhatsApp profile pictures to appear legitimate.“Police said the investigation is ongoing to trace the remaining accused and the international links involved in the fraud.
