Mangaluru: In a case highlighting the growing menace of online fraud, a young engineering graduate from Bantwal has reportedly lost ₹17.6 lakh to fraudsters posing as officials of IFFCO Company, luring him with the promise of a dealership.
Fraud began with a phone call
According to the complaint filed with the Dakshina Kannada district CEN crime police station, the victim received a call on July 4 from an individual identifying himself as Nilesh Mishra, Relationship Manager at IFFCO Company. The caller claimed that the complainant was selected for an official dealership.
The victim was asked to fill an application form received via email and submit his PAN card, bank details, and other personal documents as part of the process.
Gradual extraction of funds
Soon after, the fraudster demanded an initial payment of ₹35,000 as a registration amount. Subsequently, the victim was asked to pay additional charges under various heads – agreement charges, product amount, shifting fees, GST charges, transportation costs, and software charges.
Believing the promises, the youth transferred amounts at different intervals, which cumulatively totalled ₹17.6 lakh.
Delivery promises and disappearance
On August 8, the victim was informed that the goods would be delivered to his godown at Madanthyar on August 10. However, when he attempted to contact the fraudsters the following day, all mobile numbers had been switched off.
Even when he called the toll-free number provided earlier, he was told there might be “network issues” as the products were in transit. Since then, no communication was received, and all attempts to contact the accused have failed.
Case registered under IT and BNS Acts
Following the complaint, a case has been registered under Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the Information Technology Act and Sections 318(4) and 319(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Act. The CEN crime police are investigating the matter to trace the culprits and recover the defrauded amount.
Rising cases of cyber fraud
Police officials have urged citizens to remain cautious and verify the authenticity of any offers, particularly those promising dealership rights or large financial gains. Authorities also advised individuals to avoid transferring large sums without face-to-face verification and official documentation.