Haibowal man falls prey to OLX con

LUDHIANA: Yet another Ludhiana resident has fallen prey to OLX fraudsters, who pose as Armymen. Police said it was the 21st case against a fake soldier.
Mohit Kumar, 36, a resident of Ajit Nagar, Haibowal, said in his police complaint, “While looking for a second-hand car on OLX, I came across an advertisement for a Maruti Suzuki Alto and contacted its seller.”
Its seller introduced himself as Lakha Singh, an Armyman.“Lakha said he wanted to sell his car as he had been transferred to a distant place. As I was keen to buy the car, he asked me to deposit Rs 1.35 lakh in his bank account through an online transaction so that he could deliver the vehicle at my address,” Mohit added.
When Mohit did not get the car even after making the payment, he called up Lakha many a time, but the latter did not respond. Mohit then realised that he had been cheated and filed a police complaint on August 20.
Haibowal police station SHO inspector Parandeep Singh said, “It was found during investigation that the fraudster had opened the bank account on a fake identify proof. Besides Mohit, 20 more Ludhianvis fell in the trap of Lakha Singh on OLX. This is the 21st case against the fake Armyman.”
Police have registered a case under sections 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) and 120 B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC and Section 66 (computer-related offences) of the Information and Technology Act against the accused.