Representational image of money.
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Bengaluru: An unidentified man posing as a BBMP official cheated a city resident out of Rs 1.15 lakh by promising a taxi under a government scheme.
The 37-year-old victim, Sandeep K, a Sheshadripuram resident, said he was contacted on WhatsApp on October 18 by someone calling himself Puneeth Gowda, a revenue inspector in the BBMP Welfare Department.
The FIR stated that Gowda claimed taxis were being distributed to help the poor under the government’s ‘Sarathi’ scheme.
"He told me a taxi had been sanctioned, but the allotment was pending because the beneficiary hadn’t paid the fees. He said I would get the taxi if I paid a registration fee of Rs 25,000 immediately,” Sandeep said in the FIR.
Gowda sent BBMP forms to appear legitimate. Sandeep was told to pay additional fees for various charges. In total, he transferred Rs 1.15 lakh by scanning a QR code sent by Gowda. After receiving the money, Gowda cut off all contact.
Central cybercrime police registered a case on November 15 and launched an investigation.