An incidence has come to the fore in which online fraudster lured a woman through social media platforms and duped her of Rs 23 lakh on the pretext of sending a parcel with expensive gifts.
The victim, wife of a lecturer in Sundargarh district, has lodged a complaint with the Crime Branch here.
The woman came in contact with the unidentified person on Facebook and WhatsApp. Later, her online friend told her to have sent a parcel containing costly gift items last week.
But the woman got a jolt when she received a call on her mobile phone from another person identifying himself as a Customs Officer from Delhi airport.
He asked that a parcel in her name has been seized by the Customs Department and demanded money as bribe to release the consignment of costly jewelries.
As per instruction of the caller, the woman had transferred Rs 23.38 lakh cash online to multiple bank accounts in Delhi in various phases to receive the parcel. But as she did not get any parcel despite transferring the money, she finally realised that she was duped.
With no option left, the victim approached the Crime Branch over the issue and lodged her complaint, following which an investigation has been launched.