Indore Family Loses ₹31,200 to Cyber Fraudster Posing as Baba

A family in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, has fallen victim to a bizarre cyber fraud, losing ₹31,200 to a scammer posing as a spiritual leader. The ordeal began on August 17 when Firdos Shah's mother-in-law, Sajida Bi, received a call from an unknown number. The caller claimed to be a Baba from a famous dargah and told Sajida Bi that his spiritual readings had revealed that her youngest son would be bitten by a venomous snake.

The scammer offered to perform rituals to avert the tragedy for ₹6,200. Fearing for her son's safety, Firdos transferred the amount in instalments through a UPI QR code linked to the name 'Sameer Khan'. However, the demands did not stop there. The fraudster called again on August 18, seeking ₹25,000, which he claimed was a deposit that would be refunded once the rituals were completed.

The scammer's tactics were calculated, as he demanded an amount that was 100 times the 25-year-old man's age. Firdos transferred the amount from her father-in-law's bank account, fearing for the man's safety. The scammer then called back with another tale, claiming that the 'powerful snake' had attacked his father during the ritual and was now 'sitting on top of the ₹25,000' already transferred.

He demanded another ₹25,000 to complete the ritual, threatening that if the money was not sent immediately, the son would die. When Firdos said she had no more money, the scammer claimed that the ₹25,000 had been spent on ritual materials and hung up. After realizing they had been duped of ₹31,200, the family approached the Khajrana police, who registered a case under relevant sections pertaining to fraud and launched an investigation.

The incident highlights the growing concern of cyber fraud in India, where scammers are using various tactics to dupe people of their hard-earned money. The use of spiritual leaders and fake prophecies is a new tactic being used by scammers to gain the trust of their victims. The police are urging people to be cautious and not to fall prey to such scams.

The family's ordeal is a warning to others to be vigilant and not to transfer money to unknown individuals, especially when they claim to be spiritual leaders or offer to perform rituals. The police are investigating the matter and are trying to track down the scammer.

In recent times, there have been several cases of cyber fraud reported in Indore, and the police are taking steps to curb such activities. The public is being advised to be aware of such scams and to report any suspicious activities to the authorities.

The incident has caused a lot of distress to the family, who have lost a significant amount of money. The police are trying to provide them with support and are working to bring the scammer to justice.

The case is a reminder that cyber fraud can happen to anyone, and it is essential to be cautious and vigilant when dealing with unknown individuals or receiving suspicious calls. The police are urging people to report any such incidents to them immediately, so that they can take action and prevent further frauds from taking place.

In conclusion, the incident of the Indore family being duped of ₹31,200 by a cyber fraudster posing as a Baba is a warning to others to be cautious and not to fall prey to such scams. The police are investigating the matter, and the public is being advised to be aware of such scams and to report any suspicious activities to the authorities.