Woman duped of over ₹9 lakh in Instagram handbag scam in Udupi

Udupi: A 30-year-old woman from Santhekatte allegedly lost more than Rs 9 lakh after being cheated in an online fraud linked to the purchase of a handbag through Instagram.

According to the complaint, on April 23 she came across an Instagram advertisement for handbags and contacted the account to make a purchase. She was told the handbag cost Rs 899 and the delivery charge was Rs 1,950. The accused later sent a scanner code via WhatsApp and asked her to make the payment.

Believing the offer was genuine, she transferred Rs 2,849 via Google Pay from her Union Bank account.

The fraudsters later contacted her repeatedly via WhatsApp calls, assuring her, under various pretexts, that the amount would be refunded. Trusting them, she continued transferring money in phases from her own and her mother’s accounts until May 13.

In all, she stated that she transferred Rs 9,00,442. The handbag was never delivered, and the accused neither refunded the money nor responded thereafter.

A case has been registered at CEN Crime Police Station under sections 66(D) of the IT Act and 318(4) of the BNS.