Cyber Fraud on the Rise: Young Woman Duped of Rs 4,000 in Online Shopping Scam

Bhopal: In a disturbing trend, cyber fraud cases are on the rise in Rajgarh, with the latest incident involving a young woman who was duped of Rs 4,000 in an online shopping scam.

The victim, a resident of Biaora, had ordered clothes from a kurta collection brand on Instagram, but the clothes never arrived. When she contacted the seller, she was asked to pay additional amounts of Rs 1,000, Rs 999, and Rs 1,999, citing reasons such as delivery charges and customs clearance.

The seller, who claimed to be from Gujarat, but had a Punjab address on his Aadhaar card and a Rajasthan phone number on his mobile, eventually stopped responding to her calls.

The incident highlights the dangers of online shopping on social media platforms, where fraudulent sellers can easily deceive unsuspecting buyers.

Cyber experts warn that such scams are becoming increasingly common, with fraudsters using tactics such as fake advertisements and bogus websites to lure victims.

In another disturbing trend, sextortion cases are also on the rise, where fraudsters record video calls with victims and then blackmail them with nude photos and videos. Several cases have been reported in Biaora and Rajgarh, where victims have lost large sums of money to these fraudsters.

Stay Vigilant, Stay Safe

"The only way to avoid falling prey to such scams is to stay vigilant and cautious while shopping online. Avoid clicking on unknown links, and never share personal information or money with unknown sellers. Report any suspicious activity to the authorities immediately," says Veerendra Singh Dhakad, TI, Biaora.

 (By Rajesh Kumar Vishwakarma, Bhopal)