Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Aug 25: A youth from Bantwal has reportedly been duped of Rs 17.60 lac by fraudsters posing as representatives of a reputed company, under the pretext of granting him dealership rights.

According to a complaint filed by Vikram Prabhu, an engineering graduate currently residing at home, the ordeal began on July 4 when he received a phone call from a man who introduced himself as Nilesh Mishra, claiming to be the relationship manager of IFFCO Company.

The caller assured Vikram of dealership rights and subsequently emailed him an application form. Believing the offer to be genuine, Vikram filled out the form and submitted it along with personal documents including his PAN card, bank details and other credentials.

Over the following weeks, the fraudsters demanded multiple payments under various pretexts — registration fee, agreement charges, product cost, shifting charges, GST, transportation charges and software charges. Trusting the legitimacy of the process, Vikram transferred a total of Rs 17,60,810 to bank accounts provided by the culprits.

On August 8, he was informed that the company representatives had arrived in Bengaluru and that the delivery of products to his godown in Madantyar would be made on August 10.

However, when Vikram attempted to contact them on August 11, he found that all mobile numbers associated with the suspects were switched off. A toll-free number he had been provided responded vaguely, citing “network issues” and claiming the products were en route. Ultimately, no delivery was made, prompting Vikram to realise he had been defrauded.

Following his complaint, the Dakshina Kannada CEN Police Station has registered a case under Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the Information Technology Act, as well as Sections 318(4) and 319(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).