Mumbai, September 17: In a latest case of online fraud in Mumbai, a 40-year-old businessman was duped of Rs 4 lakh by two cyber-fraudsters on social media giant Facebook. Reports inform that the fraudsters were both women. According to a report by Hindustan Times, one of the women befriended the victim on Facebook posing as a US citizen while the other posed as customs official from Delhi. The man was duped of Rs 4 lakh after the second fraudster called him posing as a custom official from Delhi's IGI airport. The woman, told the businessman that his US friend has been detained at the airport for carrying a lot of money and made him pay the fine for it. Online Fraud in Mumbai: Andheri Man Tries to Sell His Cat Illegally on OLX, Loses Rs 1 Lakh to Fraudster.

The HT report quotes Vile Parle police saying that the complainant is a food product distributor in Mumbai. After being duped online, the man registered a formal police complaint with the Police on September 11. Describing his ordeal, the victim informed that it all started with a Facebook friend request from a woman from her Facebook page, ‘Lovely Karen’ last month. The woman claimed she was from Griffin city in Georgia. The man accepted her friend request on the social media site and began chatting after which the fraudster gave him an international number following which they started chatting on WhatsApp. Online Bank Scams, Frauds & ATM Debit Card Conning On The Rise; Here's How You Can Save Yourself From Being Duped.

The man informed that the woman had promised that she will be visiting India to start a business with him and promised to stay in touch with him. On September 3, the woman sent him her air ticket confirming that she will be coming to Mumbai via Delhi on September 6. However, on September 6, the man received a phone call from the second woman who identified herself as Puja Sharma, a customs officer from Delhi IGI airport.

Sharma, who claimed to be the custom official, told the man that his US friend was detained for bringing in US dollars equivalent to Rs 1 crore and as the money exceeded the permissible limit, the customs officer asked him to pay Rs 4 lakh in fine, money exchange commission and taxes. Mumbai Man Loses Rs 96,000 While Trying to Pay Electricity Bill Using Google Pay App.

The victim spoke to his friend through the customs officer and was convinced that she was in trouble at the airport. As the man didn’t have the money, he arranged Rs 4 lakh in a few days and transferred the money. However, the businessman got suspicious after his friend kept asking for more money. He called the Delhi Airport and found out that the call was fake and no such calls were made by any custom official. The man rushed to Vile Parle police soon after and lodged a police case. Police informed that they are trying to trace the number and the bank account details where the money was transferred by the victim.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 17, 2019 02:33 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).