Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 18 August 2024
A resident of Garacharma, Port Blair, has filed a complaint with the Cyber Crime Police Station, reporting an online financial fraud that resulted in a loss of ₹64,414. The victim detailed the incident in a letter addressed to the Station House Officer.
According to the letter, the victim received a phone call on May 21, 2024, from a person claiming to be a para-military official named Sunil Kumar. The caller offered household goods from defence personnel auctions at attractive prices. Enticed by the offer, the victim was asked to pay ₹7,200 as a token amount for items including a sofa set, bed, air conditioner, and inverter.
The fraudster provided a QR code via WhatsApp to the victim, prompting the initial transfer. Following the payment, the victim received a consignment note bearing the Indian Army logo and details of a sender identified as Sumit Kumar, purportedly a CISF constable.
The scam escalated when another individual, identified as Sandeep Rawat, contacted the victim, claiming to be responsible for transporting the goods. Rawat, who shared an Indian Army ID and Aadhaar details, demanded additional payments for GST, PO charges, and a challan. Under these pretences, the victim made multiple payments totalling ₹64,414 in multiple transactions.
Despite the payments, the fraudsters continued to demand additional funds, including a request for ₹10,000 for delivery and a further ₹4,000 to initiate a refund. The victim, however, refused to make any more payments.
In a final attempt to resolve the matter, the victim contacted Sumit Kumar on May 22, 2024, but was again asked to pay ₹10,000 to receive a full refund. The victim then received a call from Sunil Kumar asking for Rs. 4,000 to refund the entire amount. Upon refusal, the fraudsters denied the return of ₹64,414.
The victim has since registered a complaint with the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.