Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (MS)

Mangaluru, Sep 29: A case has been registered at the CEN police station concerning a cheating incident in which a man was conned out of Rs 35 lac by a stranger impersonating a cyber crime branch officer.

On September 24, the victim received a call at home from an individual claiming to be Kartik Sharma from DHL courier service in Mumbai.

The caller stated, “A parcel containing illegal narcotics has arrived under your name, intended for shipment to Taiwan, and has been confiscated by the Mumbai cyber crime branch.” He then provided a number, 9957376759, for the victim to call and speak with cyber crime officers.

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When the victim called the number, the person on the other end introduced himself as Pranesh Gupta, an officer of the cyber crime branch. During a video call, he warned the victim, “Your name has appeared in an international drug case, and we will arrest you. We will let go of the case if you pay money.”

Frightened, the victim transferred Rs 35 lac to the account provided by the impostor. Realising he had been scammed, the victim subsequently filed a complaint with the CEN police.