Mangaluru woman loses Rs 7.10 lakh in online fraud

On March 4, Dr Tushar claimed to have sent her a package containing a platinum watch, diamonds, gold, a laptop, a phone, and 90,000 US dollars in cash.

Mangaluru: A woman has lost Rs 7.10 lakh to online fraud in the name of gifts.

In her complaint to the Mangaluru South Police Station, the victim stated that she received a Facebook message on February 26 from a person identifying himself as Dr Tushar Patel, a neurologist from Florida University.

He reportedly told her that he was a divorcee with a child. Later, their conversation continued on WhatsApp. On March 4, Dr Tushar claimed to have sent her a package containing a platinum watch, diamonds, gold, a laptop, a mobile phone, and 90,000 US dollars in cash. He also told her that she would receive a call from the airport regarding the delivery.

The next day, she received a call from someone claiming that Dr Tushar’s gifts had arrived and that she needed to pay a security deposit and obtain a money laundering clearance. Trusting him, she transferred Rs 7.10 lakh to the fraudsters' accounts before realising that she had been deceived.