Karnataka youth duped of Rs 17.60 lakh on the promise of dealership rights

Mangaluru: A youth from Bantwal was duped of Rs 17.60 lakh by fraudsters promising dealership rights of a reputed company.

According to the complaint filed by Vikram Prabhu, an engineering graduate currently residing at home, he received a phone call on July 4, from a man introducing himself as Nilesh Mishra, Relationship Manager of IFFCO Company.

The caller promised dealership rights and later sent an application form via email. Believing the offer to be genuine, the complainant filled out the form and shared his PAN card, bank details, and personal documents.

Subsequently, the fraudsters asked him to pay various charges under different headings—registration fee, agreement charges, product cost, shifting charges, GST, transportation charges, and software charges. Over time, Vikram transferred a total of Rs 17,60,810 to the bank accounts specified by the fraudsters.

On August 8, the fraudsters told him they had arrived in Bengaluru and would deliver products to his godown in Madantyar on August 10.

However, when Vikram tried contacting them on August 11, all their mobile phone numbers were switched off. Even the toll-free number provided responded vaguely, claiming there were “network issues” and that his products were on the way. Eventually, no delivery was made, and Vikram realised he had been cheated.

Based on his complaint, the DK CEN Police Station has registered a case under Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the IT Act, and Sections 318(4) and 319(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).