A 24-year-old man in Ahmedabad was defrauded of ₹9.50 lakh after falling prey to a sponsored Instagram ad promising meetings with women. The scam escalated through fake refund charges.
- Victim targeted through a sponsored Instagram ad promising emotional companionship.
- Initial small payments for registration and hotel fees led to a larger trap.
- ₹9.50 lakh extorted under the guise of GST, ITR, and banking processing fees for refunds.
A shocking case of cyber fraud has emerged from the Paldi area of Ahmedabad, where a 24-year-old youth, Atharv Parolkar, was cheated of a staggering sum of ₹9.50 lakh. Atharv, originally from Madhya Pradesh and currently residing in a PG, fell into a trap set by scammers operating through a sponsored advertisement on Instagram.
The ordeal began on the night of July 25, when Atharv encountered a sponsored ad claiming to facilitate meetings and emotional connections with women in his vicinity. Upon contacting the provided number, he was connected to a man identifying himself as Hukum Singh, who assured him that a woman would be available for a meeting at a location of his choice.
The scammers initially asked for a nominal registration fee of ₹500. After the payment was made, the fraudster sent photographs of six women. Atharv selected a woman named 'Kajal,' after which he was instructed to reach a specific hotel in Ahmedabad to meet her.
Why This Matters
BozokMedia analysis shows that this case highlights a dangerous trend in 'social engineering.' The scammers didn't just steal money; they manipulated the victim's psychological state. By starting with a small amount (₹500), they established trust, then moved to a physical location (the hotel) to heighten the victim's commitment, and finally used the 'refund' lure to extract a massive sum.
"The transition from a social media ad to a physical location is a tactic used to make the fraud feel tangible and real, reducing the victim's skepticism."
Upon arriving at the hotel, Atharv was asked to pay for hotel rent, meeting fees, verification charges, and medical charges, totaling ₹14,000. When he eventually decided to cancel the service, the scammers promised a full refund. However, this promise became the vehicle for further extortion.
Under the pretext of processing the refund, the scammers demanded various payments for 'cancellation fees,' 'service renewal,' 'banking processes,' 'GST,' and 'ITR charges.' Trusting the promises, Atharv transferred money into multiple bank accounts, with the total amount reaching ₹9,50,092.
The fraudster, Hukum Singh, promised that the entire amount would be refunded by August 3. When the deadline passed without any payment, Atharv realized he had been duped. He subsequently filed a complaint with the Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Branch.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are sponsored ads on Instagram verified?
No, Instagram does not verify the legitimacy of the services offered in ads; they only verify the payment for the ad placement.
2. What should be the first step after discovering a cyber fraud?
Report the incident immediately to the national cybercrime helpline at 1930 or via the official portal at www.cybercrime.gov.in.
