Mumbai Senior Citizen Defrauded of Rs 50.8 Lakh in Complex Online Scam
A 74-year-old resident of Cuffe Parade in Mumbai has fallen victim to an elaborate online fraud, losing a staggering Rs 50.8 lakh to a scammer who posed as a New Zealand national with a compelling sob story about his daughter's medical emergency. The south cyber police station registered a First Information Report (FIR) on Tuesday, marking a serious case of digital deception targeting vulnerable individuals.
The Deceptive Friendship and Heart-Wrenching Tale
According to the FIR, the complainant received a Facebook friend request from a profile named Joshua William Douglas, which featured a photograph of him with a young girl. Although she typically avoids connecting with strangers online, she accepted the request, noticing nothing suspicious at first glance. Within just ten minutes, she received a WhatsApp message from Douglas, who introduced himself as a doctor originally from New Zealand.
Douglas spun a tragic narrative, claiming his wife and parents had passed away, leaving him as the sole caregiver to his five-year-old daughter, Maya. He added a personal touch by mentioning his mother was South Indian, perhaps to establish a false sense of cultural connection. The story took a dramatic turn when he explained that the United Nations had deployed him to the war-torn region of Yemen on a three-month contract as a gynecologist, where he was performing emergency caesarean sections.
The Medical Emergency and Financial Exploitation
The scam escalated when Douglas described a harrowing incident: Maya and other children were hospitalized due to food poisoning from a birthday cake, with many fatalities. He asserted that Maya survived but required two urgent surgeries, pleading for financial assistance since he couldn't access his bank accounts from Yemen. Moved by the plight, the complainant initially sent Rs 30,000 to help with the treatment.
"He sent me some bank account numbers and asked me to send money to them. Seeing the need of the situation, I again sent the money to the bank accounts," the victim stated in the FIR. Over time, she transferred a total of Rs 50.8 lakh across 27 transactions to various bank accounts provided by the accused, all while maintaining contact through WhatsApp calls and chats to inquire about Maya's health. Douglas promised to repay the money upon his return to India.
The Unraveling of the Scam and Police Action
The fraud came to light on February 9, when Douglas claimed he was suffering from typhoid and needed more funds for his own treatment. Upon sharing this with her son, the complainant was alerted to the possibility of being duped. Attempts to contact Douglas revealed his mobile number was switched off, prompting her to approach the authorities.
The south cyber police station has now registered an FIR, launching an investigation into this sophisticated scam that preyed on empathy and trust. This incident underscores the growing threat of online fraud, particularly targeting senior citizens who may be less familiar with digital safety protocols. Authorities are urging the public to exercise caution when engaging with strangers on social media and to verify such stories before transferring money.
