Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 17 August 2024
A 21-year-old resident of Manglutan has lodged a formal complaint with the authorities after falling victim to an online financial fraud. The incident has raised concerns over the increasing prevalence of cybercrime in the region.
The victim, a resident of Manglutan, reported the incident, which began on July 7, 2024, at approximately 10:30 AM. According to the complaint, the victim was browsing Facebook when they came across an advertisement for a second-hand car sale. Intrigued by the offer, the victim contacted the phone numbers provided in the advertisement.
The seller, posing as a legitimate vendor, requested an advance payment, assuring the victim that the car would be delivered upon receipt of the funds. Trusting the seller’s words, the victim transferred a total of ₹54,998 in 16 separate transactions from his State Bank of India account.
However, the situation took a turn for the worse on July 9, 2024, when the victim was given another mobile number, purportedly belonging to the courier boy responsible for delivering the car. Upon contacting this number, the victim was asked to provide additional funds for the delivery, which heightened their suspicions. It was at this point that the victim realised that he has fallen victim to a scam.
In response to this fraudulent activity, the victim promptly lodged an online complaint on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP) on the same day.
As incidents of online scams continue to rise, this case serves as a stark reminder for citizens to exercise caution when dealing with unverified sellers and to be vigilant against potential cyber threats.