Pune: An elderly man was allegedly duped of Rs 47.07 lakh by an American woman he befriended on Facebook in July this year. The complainant, who resides near a mall on Shankar Sheth Road, has lodged an FIR in this regard with Swargate police station. According to the police, the 59-year-old complainant has a real estate business. 

The woman, who identified herself as Aleshia Smith, told him about her interest in investing in the real estate business in India and this helped her take their friendship further. They started chatting in July this year. He told the police that on August 6, he got a call from a woman, who identified herself as Sonia Singhania and claimed to be from the Customs department at Delhi airport. 

She told him that Smith has come here without a ‘yellow card’ and was carrying a huge quantity of gold and hence has been detained. She asked him to transfer money to release her. The lady officer said that Smith has got a bank draft from Royal Bank of Scotland and he will get a refund after the draft is encashed. 

Accordingly, he transferred money to over 25 accounts and then realised the fraud. The last transaction was done on September 29. Police have registered a case for offences under sections 419 (impersonation), 420 (cheating), 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code and relevant sections of the Information Technology Act.