Posing as an NRI from the US, a woman allegedly duped a Nelamangala-based businessman of ₹4.7 lakh by promising to send gold and diamond ornaments that he could use to buy a house for her in Bengaluru.
The woman identified herself as Rachana Karam and claimed to be a nurse based in America. She befriended businessman Ravi Kumar on a social networking website.
Rachana told Ravi that she wanted to return to India and settle down in Bengaluru. She sought his help in purchasing a house. She told Ravi that she would send her gold and diamond jewellery, which he could use to purchase a house for her.
In the second week of November, he received a call from a woman claiming to be Nisha Kumari, an official in the Customs Department. She informed that he had received a parcel from the US, but to claim it he would have to pay ₹4.7 lakh towards service charge and Customs duty.
Ravi transferred the money online to the account given to him by Nisha and waited for the parcel. When he didn’t get the parcel and also was unable to reach Nisha, he realised that he had been duped.
He tried to contact Rachana on the social media platform, but found that her profile had been deleted.
He filed a complaint at Ashok Nagar police station on Thursday.
