Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 05 January 2024
In a distressing incident, a resident of Shastri Nagar Village in Great Nicobar has fallen prey to a cyber fraudster posing as an Indian Army official, resulting in a loss of INR 31,000.
The ordeal began when the victim, eager to purchase a second-hand gear-less scooter, stumbled upon a tempting listing on Facebook Marketplace. The advertisement showcased a TVS Jupiter for sale at a mere INR 21,000, capturing the victim’s attention.
Engaging with the seller via the provided contact number, the victim encountered an individual who claimed to be an Indian Army employee stationed at Diglipur. Urgency and persuasive tactics were employed, compelling the victim to transfer money in multiple instalments under varied pretexts.
On January 2, 2024, the victim initiated transfers of Rs. 2100 and Rs. 4999. Subsequently, on January 3, 2024, amounts of Rs. 12,000 and Rs. 11,999 were transferred. The following day, pressured to believe that the vehicle had reached its delivery station at Campbell Bay, the victim was asked to transfer an additional Rs. 14,000.
As the victim’s funds were depleted and after seeking assistance from friends and family, he approached Mr. M Shankar, an Ex-Gram Panchayat Member of Shastri Nagar, for financial aid. Suspecting foul play, Mr. Shankar accompanied the victim to the police station, where prompt assistance was provided by the police officials, facilitating the filing of a report on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.
Exploiting the esteemed reputation of the Indian Army, the fraudster went to lengths by sending a fabricated CSD Liquor Card as purported identity proof among other fake documents.
Instances of scams using the guise of Indian Army, CISF, BSF, and other defence personnel have become increasingly prevalent. Individuals engaging in online purchases are advised to physically inspect goods before transactions.
People should verify goods’ authenticity and refraining from making any payments before physical inspection to avoid falling victim to elaborate fraud schemes.