A 46-year-old woman from Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, was cheated out of Rs 49.59 lakh by fraudsters, including one pretending to be a customs officer, police said on Sunday.
The scam happened between June and August 2024 but came to light after the victim, who lives in Airoli, Navi Mumbai, filed a complaint on Friday at the Rabale police station.
The fraud began when a person claiming to be from the United Kingdom contacted the woman on Instagram. After building a friendly relationship, he promised to send her an expensive gift parcel.
Soon after, a woman called the victim, claiming to be a customs officer at Delhi airport. She said the parcel had arrived but could only be released after paying various charges.
The victim transferred Rs 49,59,999 over several weeks to different bank accounts provided by the fraudsters. They asked for money under the pretext of customs duties, foreign exchange fees, and parcel handling charges.
The victim realised she was cheated when the money demands kept increasing and the promised parcel never arrived. After failing to reach the suspects, she approached the police.
A case has been registered under cheating and common intention sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with provisions of the Information Technology Act, the police said.
Initial investigations show the accused used fake identities. Their real names and addresses have not yet been found.
The case is now with the cyber cell for further investigation.
The Navi Mumbai police have warned people to be careful about social media contacts involving gift offers or money transfers. “Always verify identities and avoid paying money based on unverifiable claims,” the official said.
Inputs from PTI
The scam happened between June and August 2024 but came to light after the victim, who lives in Airoli, Navi Mumbai, filed a complaint on Friday at the Rabale police station.
The fraud began when a person claiming to be from the United Kingdom contacted the woman on Instagram. After building a friendly relationship, he promised to send her an expensive gift parcel.
Soon after, a woman called the victim, claiming to be a customs officer at Delhi airport. She said the parcel had arrived but could only be released after paying various charges.
The victim transferred Rs 49,59,999 over several weeks to different bank accounts provided by the fraudsters. They asked for money under the pretext of customs duties, foreign exchange fees, and parcel handling charges.
The victim realised she was cheated when the money demands kept increasing and the promised parcel never arrived. After failing to reach the suspects, she approached the police.
A case has been registered under cheating and common intention sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with provisions of the Information Technology Act, the police said.
Initial investigations show the accused used fake identities. Their real names and addresses have not yet been found.
The case is now with the cyber cell for further investigation.
The Navi Mumbai police have warned people to be careful about social media contacts involving gift offers or money transfers. “Always verify identities and avoid paying money based on unverifiable claims,” the official said.
Inputs from PTI
