A 30-year-old woman from Santhekatte in Udupi district has allegedly lost more than Rs 9 lakh after being duped in an online fraud linked to the purchase of a handbag through Instagram. According to the complaint filed by the victim, on April 23 she came across an advertisement for handbags on Instagram and contacted the account to make a purchase.
Details of the Fraud
The victim was informed that the handbag cost Rs 899 and the delivery charge was Rs 1,950. The accused later sent a QR code via WhatsApp and asked her to make the payment. Believing the offer was genuine, she transferred Rs 2,849 via Google Pay from her Union Bank account.
Repeated Demands for Money
The fraudsters subsequently contacted her repeatedly through WhatsApp calls, assuring her under various pretexts that the amount would be refunded. Trusting their assurances, she continued transferring money in phases from her own account as well as her mother's account until May 13. In total, she stated that she transferred Rs 9,00,442.
The handbag was never delivered, and the accused neither refunded the money nor responded thereafter. Realizing she had been cheated, the victim approached the police.
Legal Action
A case has been registered at the CEN Crime Police Station under sections 66(D) of the IT Act and 318(4) of the BNS. Police are investigating the matter and have urged the public to be cautious of such online offers.
This incident highlights the growing menace of cyber frauds targeting unsuspecting buyers on social media platforms. Authorities advise verifying the authenticity of sellers and avoiding payments through unverified links or QR codes.
