In a distressing case of cyber fraud, a woman from Indiranagar was allegedly duped of Rs 2 lakh by individuals posing as 'brothers' on Instagram. The scam unfolded after the victim, identified as Salma (name changed), engaged with three men named Ravi Kumar, Rana Pratap Singh, and Manoj on the social media platform.
The perpetrators, claiming to be her 'brothers', initiated communication and gradually earned her trust. They promised Salma lavish wedding gifts and convinced her to consider them family.
"After days of communication, one of them, Ravi Kumar, contacted me via phone and assured me that they would provide expensive wedding items for me. For this, they requested my Aadhar card, photos, and other documents for shipping purposes," Salma explained to the police.
Subsequently, Manoj, one of the accused, reached out to inform Salma that the shipment had been seized at the airport. To release the package, he demanded a significant sum of money. When Salma hesitated, Manoj resorted to threats, mentioning the involvement of law enforcement agencies.
Feeling coerced, Salma transferred Rs 1.94 lakh online through a QR code provided by the fraudsters.
Deputy Commissioner of Police, North Zone, Abhijit Shankar, confirmed that an FIR has been lodged, and investigations are underway into this deceitful scheme. The police urge citizens to remain vigilant against such online scams and report suspicious activities promptly.
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