Pune: Commerce student falls for iPhone bait; loses Rs seven lakh

Pune: A 23-year-old boy from Kalepadal in Hadapsar are lost over Rs seven lakh to fraudsters, who told him that he had won an iPhone worth Rs 1.5 lakh.

The incident of fraud took place in the month of June. According to police, the fraudsters had contacted the student on July 20 and claimed to be employees of ‘Muhammad Gazette Limited Company’. The impostors had told the youth that he had earned an iPhone worth Rs 1.5 lakh in a lucky draw and further requested that their company had ISO certification. They had also forwarded soft copies of their identity cards to the student on his messaging application.

The police further informed that the fraudsters told the final year commerce postgraduate to pay customs duty among other charges for discharging the parcel allegedly seized by the customs division in New Delhi. Without verifying their credentials, he rented a huge amount from his friends and transferred Rs 7.25 lakh to the callers’ bank accounts in online transactions. But he never received the gift.”

After realising that he was tricked, the youth filed a complaint application with the Hadapsar police. The police is investigating the case further.

THINGS YOU CAN DO TO AVOID FRAUD

· Do not entertain any unidentified number.

· Don’t believe your caller ID.

· Be sceptical about free trial offers.

· Do not fall for any free scam alert.

· Never share your bank details on phone to any salespersons.

· Do not click on links or download attachments received from unexpected emails.