Online trap Part - 2

Priya sat in front of her laptop, her eyes scanning the screen intently as the small cursor blinked. The fake account she had created—a humble artist seeking recognition—had finally caught the attention of the very scammers she and Vikram had been hunting for over a month. Every day, she'd posted paintings, replying to comments, engaging in meaningless small talk with people online, all in the hope of luring the predators out. But until now, the trap hadn't sprung.

That was, until this morning.

"Vikram, you need to see this," Priya's voice was steady, but there was an edge to it. She sat back, folding her arms as she waited for Vikram to peer over her shoulder.

He leaned in, eyes narrowing as they skimmed through the messages. The first one was innocent enough—compliments on the art. A few comments about how "impressive" the work was and how much "potential" it had. But then came the familiar pitch.

"This guy," Priya said, pointing at the profile. "He's the one we've been waiting for. He's running the same lines he's used on other victims—promising connections, a bright future, asking for a small investment to get started."

Vikram frowned. "It's the same pattern, every time. But why don't people see through it?"

Priya gave a slight chuckle, but there was no humor in it. "Think about it, Vikram. If you're an artist who's struggled for recognition your whole life, and someone praises your work, would you really care who they are? You'll cling to that praise, desperate for someone to finally see your hard work. That's how they get you—through flattery. They make you feel like you've been discovered."

Vikram sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I get it. It's just frustrating—seeing people get tricked like this."

Priya clicked through a few more profiles, showing Vikram the elaborate web of connections. "This isn't just a one-man operation. There are layers to this scam. Look at this," she said, pointing to another account. "They're using fake business profiles, false endorsements. It's all orchestrated to look legitimate. By the time the victim realizes what's happening, they're already in deep."

Vikram clenched his fists. "Do we have a location? Can we track these guys down?"

Priya smiled, her fingers flying over the keyboard. "We do. The messages gave me a lead—there's a building near the old station. The IP addresses pinged there multiple times. It's probably where they're operating from. I already have a team running background checks on the building and its tenants."

Vikram's eyes gleamed with determination. "Good. Let's get over there and see what we can find. Maybe we can catch them in the act."

---

A couple of hours later, Vikram and Priya, accompanied by a small team of officers, arrived at the station building. It was a rundown structure, its paint peeling, the windows cracked and smeared with dirt. The kind of place that once held promise but had long been forgotten by the city's progress.

"Looks like the perfect place for shady dealings," Vikram muttered, surveying the area.

Priya nodded in agreement, pulling up the coordinates on her phone. "The signal leads here, to the third floor. Apartment 305. Let's head up."

They climbed the narrow, creaking stairs, their footsteps echoing off the walls. As they reached the third floor, Vikram motioned for the team to spread out, covering all exits. He and Priya approached the door cautiously, listening for any sounds inside.

Priya whispered, "This is it."

Vikram knocked, calling out, "Police! Open the door."

There was no response. Vikram exchanged a glance with Priya, then motioned to one of the officers to break the door down. With a sharp kick, the door swung open, revealing a small, dimly lit apartment.

But instead of finding a bustling scam operation or a mastermind behind a computer screen, they were met with silence. In the corner of the room, the faint glow of a computer screen illuminated the grim scene before them.

A man hung from the ceiling, his lifeless body swaying slightly. Papers and files were strewn across the floor, alongside a torn-up letter from the court. On the desk, a contract identical to the ones Priya had been tracking lay crumpled. The victim had clearly been another of their targets—a man who had fallen so deeply into debt that he saw no way out.

"God…" Priya whispered, covering her mouth in shock.

Vikram stepped forward, his eyes filled with sorrow as he took in the scene. He knelt next to the desk, picking up the contract. "This was another one of their victims. He didn't even stand a chance."

Priya's voice was low, barely audible. "We were too late."

Vikram stood, his face hardening as he looked around the room. "We might have missed him, but we're not going to miss the others. This ends here. We're going to find the people responsible for this, no matter how deep they're buried in the shadows."

Priya nodded, still shaken by the sight. "We'll track them down. We have to."

As they left the apartment, the weight of the victim's fate hung heavily over them. This wasn't just about money anymore. Lives were being destroyed—lives that could never be recovered.

The team filed out, leaving the building in silence. Vikram's jaw tightened as he stepped into the fading daylight, the case weighing on his conscience. The game had changed, and now, with the stakes higher than ever, he knew they had to dig deeper into the web of lies before more lives were lost.

Priya sat in the police station, staring at her phone, waiting. It had been a grueling few weeks, tracking down online scammers, setting up traps, and hitting dead ends. But today, her instincts told her something different—today was the day they'd catch their culprit.

Her fake account, where she'd posed as an artist looking for business opportunities, had finally drawn in the big fish. The scammer had messaged her that morning, complimenting her "work" and talking about how they could help launch her into the big leagues. The same sweet talk that had lured countless victims before her.

Suddenly, her phone buzzed. The screen lit up, flashing the name of the fake artist profile she'd created. She glanced at Vikram, who sat across from her, his eyes focused and sharp.

"Here we go," Priya whispered, answering the call. She immediately switched it to speaker so Vikram and the tech team could listen in.

"Hello, is this Priya?" came the voice on the other end—a smooth, rehearsed tone designed to sound warm and trustworthy.

"Yes, this is Priya. I was hoping to hear from you soon," she said, keeping her voice light and friendly, as if she were just another hopeful artist eager for a big break.

The man chuckled, his voice dripping with false charm. "Well, I saw your work, and I have to say, it's really something special. You have the potential to make it big in this industry, but you'll need the right kind of support to get started."

"Oh really?" Priya said, playing along. "What kind of support are we talking about?"

As the scammer launched into his well-rehearsed pitch about how his "business" could offer connections, mentorship, and career-building services, Priya discreetly pressed a button on her phone, connecting the call to the police network. Behind her, the tech team began working, triangulating the call's location and attempting to trace the source.

Vikram leaned in closer, signaling Priya to keep him talking. Every second mattered now.

"So, what's the process?" Priya asked, feigning excitement. "I mean, how do I get started? Do I need to sign anything?"

"Yes, yes, of course," the scammer replied, his tone dripping with confidence. "We'll have you sign a contract, just a formality, really. And there's a small upfront investment—you know, to show your commitment to the project. But trust me, Priya, it'll be worth it. This will change your life."

"I see… And how much is the investment?" she asked, her voice slightly hesitant but still eager, keeping the man hooked on her interest.

"Fifty thousand rupees," the man said smoothly. "It's a small price to pay for a future full of possibilities, wouldn't you agree?"

Priya glanced at Vikram, who gave her a nod, indicating that the trace was progressing.

"That sounds reasonable," she said, her heart racing as the scammer started to relax, sensing that his pitch was working. "But could you tell me more about your business? I'd like to know who I'm working with."

There was a brief pause on the line, and Priya held her breath. She needed to keep him talking just a little longer.

"Of course, Priya. We're a well-established company that's helped hundreds of artists like you. You're in good hands," the man replied, though his tone now carried a hint of caution.

"And where are you based? I'd love to visit and see the work you've done," Priya pushed, trying to stretch the conversation.

"We're, uh, located in Mumbai," the scammer replied, his voice tightening slightly. "But our work is done mostly online. There's no need for a visit."

Priya smiled inwardly. She had him. "That's great! So how do I transfer the money? Do you have an office I can visit to make sure everything's in order?"

Vikram gave her a thumbs up as the tech team gestured that they were closing in on the location.

"Well, Priya, everything can be handled digitally, no need for a physical visit…" the scammer's voice trailed off, clearly becoming more suspicious. "But if you'd prefer, we can arrange something."

"Actually," Priya interrupted, now confident they were getting close, "I'd prefer to meet in person. I'm really excited about this opportunity."

There was a sudden silence on the other end of the line.

"Priya, I think we've discussed enough for now," the scammer said abruptly. "I'll send you the contract, and we'll go from there. Goodbye."

Before Priya could reply, the line went dead.

Vikram cursed under his breath, but the tech team stood up, excited. "We've got a location!"

---

They arrived at a rundown slum area on the outskirts of the city within an hour. It was hard to believe that such a massive scam operation could be running from such a dilapidated part of town. Children played in the narrow alleyways, and vendors sold snacks from carts. It was a stark contrast to the high-end victims the scammer had been targeting.

Vikram and Priya, along with a small team of officers, made their way through the maze of alleys, finally stopping in front of a small, weather-beaten shack. It was here that their trace had led them.

"This is it," Vikram said quietly, signaling for his team to spread out. They surrounded the building, blocking all possible exits.

Priya knocked on the door, her heart pounding in her chest. After a moment, the door creaked open, and standing there was a man in his mid-thirties, dressed in shabby clothes, his eyes darting nervously between Priya and Vikram.

"Are you Sarif?" Priya asked, her voice steady.

The man swallowed, his face paling. "Wh-what do you want?"

"We know what you've been up to, Sarif," Vikram said, stepping forward. "You've been scamming innocent people, ruining their lives. It's over."

Sarif tried to slam the door shut, but Vikram and the officers burst through, grabbing him by the arms and pinning him to the ground.

"I didn't do anything! I didn't do anything!" Sarif screamed, struggling as they handcuffed him.

Priya looked around the small room, which was cluttered with old computers, fake business cards, and documents—evidence of the countless people Sarif had swindled.

Vikram shook his head, disgusted. "You've been destroying lives just to make a quick buck. You'll answer for every single one of them."

Sarif, now realizing the gravity of the situation, stopped struggling. "I-I was just trying to survive! It's not my fault they're gullible! I needed the money."

Priya's face hardened. "You took advantage of people's dreams, their hopes. You preyed on their desperation. That's more than just survival, Sarif."

Vikram tightened the handcuffs as they hauled Sarif to his feet. "You're going to prison for a long time."

As they led Sarif out of the slums, Priya and Vikram exchanged a glance. They had caught the man responsible, but they knew there were more like him out there, preying on the vulnerable.

But for now, they had put an end to Sarif's schemes. The victims could finally have some justice.

And Vikram, walking alongside Priya, knew they were one step closer to making the city a safer place—one scammer at a time.