Interstate Cyber Fraudsters Target Ponda Residents in Rs 4.9 Lakh Scam
In a concerning development, at least ten interstate cyber fraudsters have allegedly cheated two residents of Ponda, Goa, for a total amount of Rs 4.9 lakh. The incidents occurred in the first week of February, prompting the victims to seek assistance from law enforcement authorities.
Victims Approach Police Cyber Cell
Both victims reported the fraud to the police cyber cell, which subsequently transferred the cases to the Ponda police after registering their First Information Reports (FIRs). This swift action highlights the growing need for specialized cybercrime units to tackle such sophisticated scams.
First Case: Fake Truck Services Scam
In the initial case, Anil Kumar Singh, who operates a transport company in Santacruz, Ponda, was allegedly duped of Rs 2.8 lakh. The fraudsters, posing as truck drivers, contacted Singh under the pretext of providing trucks to transport consignments from Mangaluru to Chhattisgarh.
Singh had been seeking trucks to deliver his goods, and about eight individuals, claiming to be drivers, agreed to assist him. They requested an advance payment, which Singh made through UPI transfers to their mobile numbers. However, no one arrived to collect the consignments, leaving Singh out of pocket and without the promised services.
Second Case: Bogus Job Offer Fraud
In another distressing incident, Darsh Shinkre, a resident of Shantinagar, Ponda, was cheated of Rs 2.1 lakh by fraudsters who promised him a better job at a financial institution in Goa. The scam began when a person identifying as Priyanka Sharma, a recruiter, contacted Shinkre over the phone with the job offer.
After Shinkre expressed interest, Sharma and her accomplices demanded various fees, including charges for forms, registration, and interviews. Shinkre complied, making payments totaling Rs 2.1 lakh via UPI transfers, only to realize later that the job offer was entirely fraudulent.
Police Investigation Underway
The Ponda police have registered both cases separately under section 319(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, against unidentified persons. PSI Bansal Naik of the Ponda police station is leading the investigations into these interstate cyber fraud activities.
This case underscores the increasing prevalence of online scams targeting unsuspecting individuals, and authorities are urging the public to exercise caution when dealing with unknown parties, especially in financial transactions. The police are working to trace the fraudsters and prevent similar incidents in the future.
