Pune: The Kondhwa police have launched the probe after a 38-year-old woman on Sunday filed a complaint stating that a man he met on the social networking site calmed him Rs 33.35 lakh.
According to complaints, the incident occurred between March and July 2020, when the suspect promised to send him a prize consisting of the UK Pound Sterling.
The police had ordered men and two other people who allegedly helped him in carrying out fraud.
Police said the woman’s husband was running a furniture business; He is a housewife.
“He often social media every day.
In March 2020, he received a request for friendship from a man who claimed to be an English-based entrepreneur.
Once they became acquainted, he told him that he wanted to invest in India and promised to send a significant number in Pound sterling as a gift, “said Senior Inspector Sardar Patil.
The police said the woman then asked her to first visit India.
“He then called and claimed he was detained by customs officials at Delhi Airport and that foreign currencies were confiscated,” Patil said.
At first, the complainant did not respond to the man’s request for assistance.
“He then received a call where a woman claimed to be a customs officer.
The caller said they would begin legal action if the complainant did not pay a fine,” he said.
He transferred RS33.35 lakh to the bank account number provided by a female caller.
“After the transfer was made, the suspect and ‘customs’ stopped answering his call.
He then realized he was cheated,” said Patil.
Pune cyber police said they had received 171 cases like that since January this year.
Last year, there were 70 complaints like that.
“People must be careful before receiving friendship requests from foreigners.
They should never transfer money to foreigners,” said Senior Inspector D S Hake.
Syberfaud Expert Rohan Nyayadhish told TII that people had to be vigilant and avoid taking risks online, such as accepting friend requests from foreigners.
“People are increasingly falling prey with these tricks.
Often the suspects, chatting, winning their beliefs.
Gradually, the suspect began to make promises to the victims.
The trust is so high that people begin to believe in them,” said Nyayadhish.