Engineer from Odisha lost Rs 5.22 lakh while selling sofa online
A 21 -year -old engineering graduate from Odisha has become the latest victim of cyber fraud. The victim was cheated by Rs 5.22 lakh while trying to sell his old couch set online. The scam included a fake buyer as a furniture dealer, who cheated the victim to share sensitive banking details.
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In another case of cyber fraud, a 21 -year -old engineering graduate from Odisha was cheated by Rs 5.22 lakh while trying to sell his old couch set online. The victim allegedly listed the set set for sale on an online platform. He was approached by an alleged furniture dealer, who expressed interest in buying furniture. However, as the victim proceeded with sales, he fell into a wide net set by the scammers.
21 -year -old, Subhara Jenna, who recently completed his BTech degree, posted an advertisement on 8 May to sell his sofa set on an online platform for Rs 10,000. According to the Times of India report, soon after posting the advertisement, Subhara received a call from a person who identified himself as Rakesh Kumar Sharma. He claimed to be a local furniture dealer. The caller then expressed interest in buying furniture. After some conversation, Subhara agreed to reduce the price.
To start the payment process, the caller asked for Subhara’s bank details. However, when the initial transaction allegedly failed, Scammer manipulated her to share additional banking information, including her mother’s account details. The cheater then claimed that the money was accidentally transferred from Subhash’s mother’s account. Fearful of the call, Subhara followed the scammer’s instructions and even borrowed Rs 1.5 lakh from friends to maintain sufficient balance in his account.
On May 10, the fraud allegedly informed Subhara that Rs 5.22 lakh was misunderstood by his accounts and promised to return the amount in cash. However, Scammer never showed to hand over the cash and later became unattainable. When Subhra and his mother examined their bank accounts, they came to know that Rs 5,21,519 was closed through several transactions. The fraudsters had allegedly transferred Rs 1 lakh from their mother’s account to Subhra’s account before completely dried.
After realizing that he was cheated, Subhara filed a complaint at the cyber police station in Rourkela. The police have registered a case, and investigation is on.
The case acts as another Stark Reminder so far, the extent to which the scammers will go to cheat people. Cyber criminals are constantly developing their strategy to carry out such crimes. Vigilance is important to stay safe online.
To stay safe from such fake buyers or unknown persons, here are some safety tips:
– Never share sensitive financial information like bank account details, UPI PIN, or OTP with unknown buyers or vendors regardless of your claims, with unknown buyers or vendors.
– Verify the identity of buyers or vendors independently before proceeding with any financial exchange.
– Most importantly, beware of pressure strategy- Scammers often cause urgency to manipulate victims. If you find yourself in such a situation, stay calm and work wisely.
