Daijiworld Media Network - Matunga

Matunga, May 4: The Matunga police on Wednesday busted an alleged online trading scam worth over five lac rupees. A matunga-based woman was cheated on the pretext of getting money for her social media friend, who was supposedly caught with one million pounds at New Delhi airport.

As per the police report, the accused had created a fake Facebook profile named Mark Garry and made friends with the woman by introducing himself as a UK-based entrepreneur. The fraudster had also sent an FB message to the woman enquiring if she was interested in becoming his business partner for his new hotel chain in India.

On April 8, the victim got a call from a woman who identified herself as an immigration department officer in New Delhi and was told that Gary has been caught with one million pounds and asked the victim to arrange money for his release.

As per the Indian Express report, “The victim first sent Rs 35,000 to an account, as Gary claimed that the immigration officers were ready for a settlement. Later, he contacted the victim and said money seized was in pounds and needed to be converted in Indian currency, the officers had asked for Rs 1.35 lac, which she then transferred,” said an officer from Matunga police station.

The fraudsters again contacted the woman, saying they were yet to receive the amount and threatened to arrest Gary. They said, he would be kept in their custody for a day and produced in court the next day. “The next day, Gary called the woman and requested her to talk to his advocate. She was then made to pay his fees,” the officer said.

On April 15, Garry contacted her again and asked to transfer another Rs 10,000 and promised to transfer the whole amount back to her account. The woman realised she had been duped after Gary deleted his Facebook profile and switched off his phone. The police, on Wednesday, registered a case of cheating and impersonation under Indian Penal Code and IT Act.