A 31-year-old woman in Bengaluru lost more than Rs 18.4 lakh to cyber fraudsters who posed as Indian Premier League (IPL) ticket sellers. The incident began as an attempt to fulfill her cancer-stricken father's wish to watch an IPL match at M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
How the Scam Unfolded
According to a complaint filed by Mamata (name changed), a resident of Sarabandepalya, she searched for tickets online and came across a man identifying himself as Navaneetha Krishnan on Instagram. Using the handle 'nav_krishnan,' the fraudster claimed he could arrange IPL match tickets for April 23 and provided a WhatsApp number, 6360670695, for further communication.
Trusting his assurances, Mamata initially transferred Rs 15,000 for two tickets. Soon after, she was asked to pay an additional Rs 6,000, which she was told would be refunded when the tickets were handed over at the stadium.
Escalation of Fraud
The fraud escalated when another person, Yuvaraj, contacted her via WhatsApp and shared purported ticket-booking details. Subsequently, claiming that the booked tickets were 'sponsor tickets' that had been cancelled, Krishnan persuaded her to pay an additional Rs 12,000 for replacement tickets in another stand. Desperate to fulfill her father's wish, she paid.
However, the demands did not stop. The complainant was allegedly told that the tickets were not seated together. When she asked for cancellation, the crooks demanded another Rs 3,000. Later, on May 4, Yuvaraj called her and claimed that a refund was being processed, but she needed to pay another Rs 5,000 to complete the transaction.
Manipulation and Loss
The accused continued to manipulate the complainant with promises of refunds and ticket confirmations. Over time, citing various reasons, they allegedly induced her to transfer a staggering Rs 18.4 lakh through her two bank accounts and her mother's account. Police said the fraudsters briefly transferred Rs 2.4 lakh to the complainant as a purported refund, only to convince her to send the amount back as part of the ongoing 'refund process.' They later made her transfer back the Rs 2.4 lakh.
Despite receiving substantial payments, the fraudsters never delivered any IPL tickets or refunded the money. Realizing she had been cheated, the woman lodged a police complaint on June 4. A case has been registered under BNS Section 318 (cheating) and the Information Technology Act.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the risks involved in online ticket purchases, especially from unverified sources. Authorities urge the public to exercise caution and verify the authenticity of sellers before making any payments.
