Facebook 'friend' cons woman of Rs 8.61 lakh

MUMBAI: Accepting a friend request from a stranger on Facebook (FB) and chasing a non-existent gift thereafter cost a 34-year-old Mira Road homemaker Rs 8.61 lakh as she fell prey to online fraud.

The woman (name withheld to protect identity), a resident of Mira Road, in her police complaint stated that she came into contact with a man who identified himself as Solomon Jack, a native of Scotland, in May this year through FB.

Soon, the two exchanged mobile numbers and frequently chatted on instant messaging apps.

Claiming to be the campaign manager of a reputed automobile firm, Jack was keen on sending some expensive gifts to the complainant, despite her reluctance.

A month later, a woman posing as a customs officer from Mumbai airport, called the complainant, informing the latter about the arrival of her parcel but asking her to pay duty to obtain it. After consultations with her FB friend, the complainant paid Rs 8.20 lakh to different bank accounts.

Later, the woman who had posed as a customs officer called again, and demanded another Rs 3.92 lakh but the complainant expressed her inability to do so.

Last week, Jack called the complainant and claimed that he had arrived in New Delhi but needed the money as his bags had been confiscated by the authorities.

The complainant once again deposited Rs 41,000 but grew suspicious when Jack kept demanding more and more money. Ultimately, she registered a complaint with the police on Saturday.

An officer said that efforts were on to trace details of the bank accounts where the money had been deposited.