A 24-year-old software engineer from Central Bengaluru lost over ₹1.4 lakh after falling prey to an online escort service scam that originated through a Telegram link.
According to the First Information Report (FIR) filed by the High Grounds police on July 29, the techie clicked on a link shared via Telegram that led him to an individual who introduced herself as Ishani Reddy. She claimed to offer call girl and spa services, and requested a nominal initial payment of ₹299 to begin the booking process.
Once the payment was made, the victim was asked to transfer additional amounts under various pretexts, such as service charges, security deposits, and refund processing fees. Over time, he transferred a total of ₹1,49,052 through multiple transactions, hoping to either avail the promised service or receive a refund.
When he eventually decided to cancel the request and demanded a refund, his messages and calls were ignored. Realizing he had been duped, he reported the incident through the national cybercrime portal and subsequently lodged a formal police complaint.
The High Grounds police have registered a case and are investigating the matter under relevant sections of the Information Technology Act and IPC.
Officials are urging the public to remain vigilant against online scams, particularly those involving unsolicited messages, suspicious payment requests, or unverifiable services.