Ghaziabad couple cheated of Rs 7 lakh on pretext of baby photoshoot, cyber crime unit begins investigation
A Ghaziabad-based couple were cheated of Rs 7 lakh by fraudsters. They tricked them on the pretext of getting a photoshoot done for their baby. The couple were tricked into believing that they needed to earn some money/points by clicking on random links on Telegram. Later they were asked to pay money directly and after transferring Rs 7 lakh to various accounts, removed from the Telegram group. Police are investigating the matter.
New Delhi: In a shocking case reported from Ghaziabad, cyber fraudsters cheated a couple of lakhs of rupees after tricking them into agreeing to a photoshoot for their child. The couple had reportedly been approached by an online Facebook page, offering to do a photoshoot for their child.
Fraudsters sent random links, asked to pay money: Police
According to the Cyber Crime police unit of UP, the couple identified as Lalit Kumar Kaushik and his wife Payal, were approached by a random Facebook page 'Sparkling Childhood'. The couple were contacted on January 7 and asked if they would want their child to model for a clothing brand. After they consented, there was a short discussion and they were asked to send across 3 photos of their child.
The fraudsters then told them to connect with a man, named Krishna Gowtham, who was reportedly a manager. They were asked to send a code and photos of their baby on Telegram. After they had done so, Gowtham told them that they needed to complete some tasks and earn points and only then would the photoshoot proceed.
Kaushik said that both he and his wife were added to a Telegram Group named, 'Kids Club (18)' and they were sent random links. The fraudsters reportedly told them to share and like those links and then send them screenshots. In return both of them were paid Rs 150 and Rs 300 for each link they liked. The money was immediately credited to their accounts.
Next, the fraudsters asked them to invest Rs 1,000 and said that within 15 minutes Rs 1300 would be credited to their accounts. This made the couple a bit suspicious, and they refused to pay upfront. The manager, Krishna, however assured that their money would be safe. The two then paid Rs 1,000 and as promised received Rs 1300 in return.
Krishna then connected them to a man Bharat through Telegram. They were asked to pay Rs 5,000 and shown a link which showed their investments. The fraudsters kept insisting that the couple pay more money and within 2 days, January 8 and 9, Kaushik and his wife had transferred Rs 7 lakh through different links shared by the fraudsters.
On January 10, when the man tried to withdraw his money, he was unable to do so. After he protested with Bharat, he was connected to the 'company's customer care' executive. This was also through a Telegram ID. Despite raising the complaint, no money was refunded and the couple were also removed from the Telegram group.
It was only then that Kaushik and his wife realised that they were cheated of their hard-earned money.
Complaint filed, investigations on
After being drained of his money, Lait Kaushik approached the Cyber CRime police and filed a complaint. The FIR was registered against unknown persons and under Section 318(4),of BNS which deals with cheating and other relevant sections of the IT Act.
Peeyush Kumar Singh, ADCP (cyber and crime) confirmed the registration of the FIR. He said that an investigation has been launched in the matter and they hope to catch the fraudsters soon and recover the couple's money.