In today’s digital age, scams are becoming increasingly common, targeting unsuspecting individuals across various platforms. From social media to professional networking sites, cybercriminals are constantly devising new ways to exploit people’s trust and extract money from them. Despite numerous warnings and awareness campaigns, many still fall victim to these sophisticated frauds.
Now, a report has emerged revealing that an Indian doctor was scammed of Rs 28 lakh by a cyber fraudster who posed as an Irish surgeon on LinkedIn. Read along to know the whole story.
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A 53-year-old doctor from Panvel, who is a single mother, fell victim to a cyber scam, losing Rs 28 lakh to a fraudster she met on LinkedIn in June of last year, reports TOI. The scammer posed as a divorced surgical oncologist and plastic surgeon from Ireland.
The doctor has filed a complaint at the Navi Mumbai cyber police station against the accused, known as Jose Fernandes alias Santino, and his accomplice, who pretended to be a customs official at Delhi International Airport. The accomplice claimed that Santino had been detained for carrying undeclared foreign currency worth Rs 8 lakh.
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The scammer requested financial assistance from the doctor to cover customs charges, and she ended up transferring a total of Rs 28 lakh to various bank accounts over time. According to the FIR, Santino created a fake ID as Fernandes. For 11 months, the victim and the fraudster communicated via WhatsApp, during which time Santino, claiming to be a single father of a seven-year-old, indirectly proposed to her, the police said.
In my opinion, this incident highlights the increasing threat of cyber fraud, especially through social media platforms. It’s important for individuals to remain cautious while interacting with strangers online and to verify the authenticity of their claims before making any financial commitments.
