Bengaluru, Aug. 4: A 52-year-old domestic worker from Whitefield allegedly lost ₹8 lakh to cyber fraudsters who exploited her financial distress by promising free rice and a cash gift before tricking her into paying fake GST and processing charges.
According to a complaint registered at the Whitefield CEN Crime Police Station, the fraud began after the woman’s neighbour informed her that free rice was being distributed as part of Bakrid celebrations and shared a mobile phone number with her.
Police said the victim contacted the number on May 25 and spoke to an unidentified man. During the conversation, she reportedly explained her financial difficulties. The caller then claimed that his employer, based in Dubai, wanted to help her by providing free rice and transferring ₹8 lakh directly to her bank account.
A few days later, another man, claiming to be the Dubai-based employer, contacted the woman from a different number. He told her that he was travelling from Bengaluru to Dubai and assured her that the promised amount would be credited to her account within two days.
The victim subsequently received calls and text messages stating that the ₹8 lakh had already been transferred and that a cheque confirming the transaction would be delivered to her by post.
The fraud escalated when another caller, posing as a bank manager, informed her that the money had reached the bank’s main branch but could not be released unless she paid Goods and Services Tax (GST) and other processing charges.
Soon afterwards, a person claiming to be a GST department official allegedly instructed the woman to visit a cyber café and complete the payment formalities. Believing the claims to be genuine, she followed the instructions and transferred money in multiple transactions, eventually losing ₹8 lakh.
Realising she had been cheated after the promised funds never reached her account, the woman approached the police. A case has been registered, and the Whitefield CEN Crime Police are investigating the fraud and attempting to trace those involved.
