Karnataka: Cashew oil unit owner loses Rs 2.45 lakh to fraudster posing as BSF purchasing officer

Udupi: A woman operating a cashew oil manufacturing unit in Kundapur has reported being duped of more than Rs 2.45 lakh by a man who allegedly posed as a purchasing officer from the BSF unit in Yelahanka. The fraudster is said to have placed a large order for oil and persuaded her to transfer money online under the guise of arranging a gate pass and paying a security deposit.

According to the complaint filed at the Kota police station by 56-year-old Veena, she was first contacted in early August by a caller identifying himself as Kunal Chaudhary. Claiming to represent the Yelahanka BSF Purchaser’s Office, he initially requested five barrels (around one tonne) of cashew oil. Veena told him she could not supply such a small quantity but could arrange a tanker if the order was for five tonnes. The man said he would confirm with his superiors.

Two days later, he called again with an order for 30 tonnes. On August 14, Veena dispatched the consignment in a tanker to an address in Bengaluru. Soon after, the caller told her that since the next day was Independence Day, she needed to generate a gate pass online immediately to avoid a delay of two to three days in payment. He asked her to send Rs 5 to start the process. When she transferred the amount from her son’s account, she received Rs 10 back from him.

The caller then claimed a security deposit of Rs 2.5 lakh was required. While attending a meeting in Delhi, Veena transferred Rs 2,45,486 in total. Realising she had likely been conned, she contacted the cybercrime helpline (1930) and lodged a complaint.

Kota police have booked the case under Section 66(D) of the Information Technology Act.