JOIN USTo accept a Facebook friend request or not is quite a question in itself. But, accepting a random friend request could be dangerous as the case in point here.
Recently in Hulimavu, a 24-year-old man was extorted of cash and gold ornaments by a gang posing as policemen, soon after the former accepted a friend request on the social platform.
The online friend enticed Subramanya, the victim, with the company of a woman.
The city police are on the lookout now for a gang of three who lured the man, and robbed him on January 4, 2019.
Subramanya, a resident of Konanakunte, received a friend request on Facebook from one Preetham Gowda on December 31, 2018.
After he accepted the request, the duo started chatting and subsequently, Preetham offered the ‘escort service’, and asked Subramanya to come and meet him near a mall on Bannerghatta Road on January 4.
An excited Subramanya reached the spot and shared his location details with Preetham Gowda.
A few minutes later, three men in a car approached and identified Subramanya. The trio threatened him saying they were policemen. They blackmailed Subramanya saying he was into immoral activities and they were to register a police complaint against him. Apparently, the gang demanded Rs 50,000 for not filing the complaint.
To escape the trap, a scared Subramanya took the accused to his house and paid them Rs 2,000 and a gold chain worth Rs 10,000. But, the accused continued to demand more money. Subramanya then called his friend, Ganapathy, and sought help.
Ganapathy agreed to help, and asked Subramanya to come to a place near Konanakunte.
Subramanya, along with the accused, reached the spot. Ganapathy, after hearing the plight of his friend, called the police. Sensing trouble, the trio sped away leaving Subramanya, who later filed a complaint at the Hulimavu police station.