The woman filed a complaint stating that on February 26, a man contacted her on Facebook, introducing himself as Dr Tushar Patel.
Shortly after, he messaged her on WhatsApp, addressing her as "dear sister."
He told her that he had sent her a gift consignment from the US.
Online scams are becoming increasingly common with fraudsters using emotional manipulation to deceive victims. In a recent case from Mangaluru, a woman lost Rs 7.1 lakh after falling for a ‘gift scam’ carried out by a man posing as a doctor from the United States. Keep reading to know how the scam unfolded and how you can protect yourself from such frauds.
The woman filed a complaint stating that on February 26, a man contacted her on Facebook, introducing himself as Dr Tushar Patel, a neurologist at UHealth, University of Miami, Florida. He claimed to be divorced with a child.
Also read: Pune firm accountant falls for Whale Phishing scam, transfers Rs 1.9 cr to fraudster’s account
Shortly after, he messaged her on WhatsApp, addressing her as “dear sister,” reports TOI. He told her that he had sent her a gift consignment from the US, which included expensive items like platinum, diamonds, a luxury watch, a laptop, an iPhone, $90,000, and gold items.
He also told her that she would receive a call from the airport regarding the delivery of these items. On March 5, she received a call from a person who claimed to be from the airport authorities, informing her that her package had arrived but required a security deposit before it could be released. Believing this, she transferred money to the provided bank accounts.
Later, she received another call stating that additional clearance charges were needed. Falling further into the scam, she made multiple transfers via PhonePe and NEFT, sending a total of Rs 7.1 lakh to accounts under the names Rebek VL Awmpuii, Stella Tirkey, and Hulawmamwi.
Also read: Senior citizen loses over Rs 1cr in low-interest loan scam: Here’s what happened
How to avoid falling for such scams
- Be cautious of online strangers: Do not trust people you meet online, especially if they make extravagant claims.
- Verify identities: If someone claims to be from a reputable institution, do a background check and verify their credentials.
- Avoid sending money to unknown accounts: Never transfer money to people you have not met in person, especially for promised gifts or prizes.
- Watch for red flags: Scammers often create urgency, ask for secrecy, or use emotional tactics to pressure victims.
- Report suspicious activity: If you suspect fraud, report it to the police and cybercrime authorities immediately.
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Ayushi Jain
Tech news writer by day, BGMI player by night. Combining my passion for tech and gaming to bring you the latest in both worlds. View Full Profile
