Representative image of online scam.
Credit: iStock Photo
Mangaluru: A woman from Bantwal has reportedly been duped of Rs 2.35 lakh in an online scam, after being misled by fraudsters with the promise of a courier parcel filled with expensive gifts.
According to her complaint, the woman received a call on December 3 last year from someone claiming to represent DHL Express Courier Services in Delhi. The caller said that a parcel containing gold, an iPhone, Rs 49 lakh in cash, and other high-value items had arrived in her name. However, she was told she would need to pay a “clearance fee” to receive it.
When she responded that she couldn’t afford the fee, she was persuaded to take a loan to cover the charges. Believing the claim, she began transferring money in instalments. Over time, she sent Rs 80,000 via digital payment platforms including PhonePe, Google Pay, and Paytm.
The woman was later contacted again on June 6 through WhatsApp by a different number, repeating a similar story — a courier parcel with valuable gifts awaited her, but she needed to make an advance payment to receive it. Trusting the message, she transferred Rs 35,000 that day, followed by Rs 65,000 on June 12 and Rs 50,000 on June 16, as directed by the fraudster.
In total, she transferred Rs 2.35 lakh, but never received any parcel nor a refund. A complaint has been registered at Bantwal Town Police under Sections 318(2), 318(4), and 319(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).