Navi Mumbai Woman Duped of ₹49 Lakh in Online Gift Scam
Navi Mumbai, June 9, 2025: In yet another alarming case of cyber fraud, a 46-year-old woman from Airoli, Navi Mumbai, was conned out of nearly ₹49.6 lakh by scammers who posed as foreign acquaintances and customs officials.
A individual claiming to be from the United Kingdom contacted the woman on Instagram, the Rabale Police said. As they developed a virtual connection over time, the supposed foreigner offered to give her a pricey present as a thank you.
She soon received calls at the Delhi airport from a person posing as a customs official, telling her that the gift had arrived but that it could only be released upon payment of a number of fees, including customs duty, foreign exchange, and registration costs. She paid the caller several times between June and August 2024, believing that she would receive the promised package. As directed by the scammers, she moved a total of ₹49,59,999 into other bank accounts.It wasn’t until the package never came and the scammers kept requesting additional money that the woman recognized she had been tricked. On June 6, 2025, she went to the Rabale Police and filed a formal complaint.
Along with pertinent provisions of the Information Technology Act, police have filed a case for criminal conspiracy and cheating under Sections 318(4) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The Cyber Cell has now been given the case to look it further.
“We believe the accused tricked the victim by using fictitious names and cell phone numbers. A senior cyber cell officer stated, “We are tracking down the digital footprints and bank accounts that were left behind.”
The growing danger of online frauds that prey on emotionally sensitive people is brought to light by this occurrence. The public has been advised by police to exercise caution when interacting with strangers on social media. Additionally, they cautioned against sending money in exchange for presents or awards from unidentified sources.
Navi Mumbai Police Cyber Safety Advice:
Never believe strangers on social media who offer money or gifts.
Never give out financial or personal information to strangers online.
Before paying, always confirm with authorities or customs.
Inform the closest police station or cybercrime portal of any suspicious activity right away.
Authorities emphasize the significance of digital awareness and skepticism when handling unsolicited offers, particularly those that appear too good to be true, as instances of digital fraud continue to increase.
