A city-based industrialist has been tricked into parting with Rs. 1.48 crore by online fraudsters after luring him with fictitious prize money of million pound sterlings.
Investigators suspect online fraudsters from abroad operating with the help of some Indians could be behind it. Though such Nigerian frauds were not unusual, this case involves highest amount belonging to a single person in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh States.
Owner of an electric transformer manufacturing industry in Kukatpally, the victim received an email fromtataclaimsconsultant
@mit.tc, apparently created only to cheat netizens, in second week of March. It congratulated him stating that he was selected for ‘Tata Multi Purpose Production and Manufacturing company’s 10 star prize money’.
Actually, the mail sender is no way connected to Tata company. “But the name was used to lead the industrialist believe it was genuine, referring to earlier Land Rover car loan he had availed from Tata Capitals,” the investigators told The Hindu . The victim had cleared the Rs. 20 lakh loan three years ago. Somehow, the cheats used the info by quoting it in the email to win his confidence, the police said. Initially, he was asked to pay Rs. 5,500 for registration to claim the prize money.
The unsuspecting industrialist transferred the money online. Thus, he paid Rs. 1,48,60,464 in the next fortnight as the fraudsters continued to transfer money online on different pretexts. Finally, he realised that he was taken for a ride and approached the Cyberabad Cyber Crime sleuths who registered a cheating case.
The money was deposited in 14 different Indian bank accounts and withdrawn from them suggesting that some locals were involved. “Please don’t believe if you receive any emails or text messages over phone about prize money. This is Nigerian fraud and many fell prey to it,” ACP S. Jayaram appealed to people.
