A woman working at a healthcare centre in Uttar Pradesh’s Lucknow was duped of Rs 2.10 lakh by a man claiming to be an England-based doctor on social media, said police on Friday, adding that a case of fraud was registered and the cyber crime cell is investigating the matter.
According to police, Sandhya, a resident of Bigahu village in Kakori, came into contact with a man named “Dr. Sameer” on Facebook on July 20, who claimed to be a doctor from England and started the conversation by discussing health-related topics.
A few days later, he added her to a WhatsApp group and told her he was sending a gift for her. Sandhya initially declined, but later agreed after receiving multiple messages.
Shortly after, Sandhya received a phone call from someone who identified himself as a customs officer at Mumbai Airport. The caller informed her that in order to release the parcel being sent to her, she would need to pay tax and other related charges.
Trusting the caller, Sandhya transferred a total of Rs 2.10 lakh in three separate installments. However, she never received the promised gifts or the parcel, which made her suspicious of the situation. Realising she had likely been deceived, Sandhya contacted the police and filed a complaint about the fraud.
Kakori Inspector Satish Rathore said a case has been registered and efforts are underway to trace those involved. Furthermore, police advised the public to avoid sharing personal details with strangers on social media and to be cautious of offers involving gifts or parcels.
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