A 48-year-old businessman lost ₹2.93 crore after he befriended a woman on a business and employment-focused social media platform. The woman claimed to be based in the United Kingdom (U.K.).
The complainant hails from Gottigere in Bengaluru. He came in contact with a woman, who identified herself as Rose George, on LinkedIn in 2022. For about six months, he was chatting with her over the phone.
After gaining his trust, she told him that she will be travelling to Bengaluru to meet him. On December 22, 2022, she claimed to be stopped in Delhi airport for carrying a ‘British Pound Check’, and was told to pay ₹20 lakh. When she sought his help, he transferred the money. The woman later claimed that she was deported from Delhi.
About six months later, on May 8, 2023, he received a letter, purportedly from the Enforcement Directorate (ED). According to the letter, he had to pay ₹16 lakh in relation to the case. From May 8 to June 13, a total of ₹2.93 crore was extorted from him.
The police said he was unaware that he was being duped for nearly six months, and realised what was happening only when he shared his ordeal with one of his friends. He then approached the police station.
The police suspect that the woman is based somewhere in north India but made the complainant believe that she is from the U.K.
The fake ED officials went by the names Paul Robinson and Douglas Brain Wyne. Police believe that all three are not real names, and the trio work together. The police have approached the bank to freeze the accounts of the accused.
The police said this is a new trend wherein a woman targets men. Usually, it is the other way round. In many cases the modus operandi remains the same. The woman/man says she/he will be travelling to meet and later claims that a customs officer stopped her/him at the airport. They stop after taking money, and if the target continues to believe her/his case was genuine, then lay another trap by sending fake notices.
An FIR has been registered at South East Cyber Crime, Economic Offences and Narcotics police station.
Published - July 06, 2023 08:59 pm IST
