Woman Duped of ₹ 2 Lakh by Instagram Fraudsters Posing as ‘Brothers’

In a distressing incident of cyber fraud, a woman from Indiranagar, identified under the pseudonym Salma, fell victim to a deceitful scheme orchestrated by three individuals on Instagram. The perpetrators, claiming to be brothers, ensnared the victim by promising lavish wedding gifts.

According to the victim’s statement to the police, she encountered three men named Ravi Kumar, Rana Pratap Singh, and Manoj on Instagram on April 22. Over time, they cultivated her trust, posing as supportive siblings. Subsequently, Ravi Kumar contacted her via phone, assuring her of providing expensive wedding items. To facilitate the purported gifts, the victim was coerced into sharing personal documents, including her Aadhar card and photographs.

The situation took a dire turn when Manoj, one of the accused, informed the victim that the shipment had been intercepted at the airport. He demanded a substantial sum to release the package, leveraging threats of legal repercussions if she failed to comply. Fearing consequences, the victim transferred ₹1.94 lakh online through a QR code.

Deputy Commissioner of Police, North Zone, Abhijit Shankar, confirmed that an FIR has been filed, and investigations are in progress to apprehend the perpetrators. Authorities urge citizens to remain wary of such fraudulent schemes and report any suspicious activities promptly.