Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 24 April 2024
In a distressing turn of events, a woman residing in Subhasgram, Diglipur, has fallen victim to an elaborate online scam, losing a staggering sum of Rs. 5.22 lakh under the guise of receiving gifts from a purported acquaintance.
The victim lodged a formal complaint with the Cyber Crime Police Station in Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, detailing the fraudulent scheme that ensnared her finances. The written correspondence received by the police outlines a sequence of deceptive interactions initiated through social media platform Facebook.
According to the victim’s account, she received a friend request on Facebook from an unknown individual operating under the alias “Brown Patty” on March 5, 2024. Subsequent conversations led to the exchange of personal mobile numbers, and communication transitioned to WhatsApp.
The deceit escalated when the scammer, masquerading as a benefactor from the UK, purportedly sent gifts to the victim’s address. On March 27, 2024, the victim received a WhatsApp call from the individual, informing her of the arrival of the purported gifts at Delhi Airport.
In a calculated move, the victim was contacted by a party claiming to represent the Customs Department at Delhi Airport Terminal-2. Under the guise of security protocols, the victim was coerced into transferring Rs. 25,000 to facilitate the release of the alleged courier.
Unbeknownst to the victim, this was merely the opening gambit in a meticulously orchestrated swindle. The fraudsters, preying on the victim’s trust, manipulated her into making further payments, citing various spurious reasons, ultimately draining her finances of Rs. 5.22 lakh.
The victim recounted multiple transactions made via Google Pay, including payments to accounts held in Indian Bank and ICICI Bank.
Realisation dawned on April 5, 2024, when the perpetrators demanded an additional Rs. 4.99 lakh, prompting the victim to comprehend the extent of the deception. Distraught and financially devastated, the victim promptly alerted the authorities.
The harrowing ordeal serves as a stark reminder of the perils lurking within the realm of online interactions, underscoring the imperative for heightened vigilance and caution in navigating digital platforms.