‘London Woman’, 95,000 Pounds Offer: Gwalior Contractor Loses INR 1.23 Lakh in Facebook Scam
A contractor from Gwalior allegedly lost INR 1.23 lakh in a cyber fraud after being lured through Facebook and WhatsApp chats by scammers posing as a woman from London, police said.
A contractor from Gwalior allegedly lost INR 1.23 lakh in a cyber fraud after being lured through Facebook and WhatsApp chats by scammers posing as a woman from London, police said.
According to investigators, the victim, identified as Kamalkant Yadav from the Harishankarpuram locality, was contacted on Facebook on April 24 by a person introducing themselves as “Lucky Charles.” The conversation later continued under the name “Dr Patricia,” who claimed to be a tourist planning to visit India from London.
Police said the accused told Yadav she was carrying 95,000 British pounds, allegedly worth around INR 1.22 crore, and needed assistance converting the money into Indian currency after arriving in India. The fraudster reportedly promised him a commission and expensive gifts in return for his help. What Is ‘Digital Arrest’ Scam? NPCI Warns Citizens To Stay Vigilant Against Fraudsters Impersonating Law Enforcement To Steal Personal Data; Know How To Protect Yourself.
The scam escalated on April 27 when Yadav allegedly received a call from another woman pretending to be an official at Mumbai airport. The caller claimed customs clearance charges and registration fees had to be paid before the foreign currency could be released.
Believing the story, Yadav initially transferred INR 38,500 as a registration fee. Police said he was later persuaded to send additional amounts under various procedural charges, eventually losing a total of INR 1.23 lakh across multiple bank accounts. What Is SIM Swap Scam? Know How To Stay Alert and Safe From Mobile Number Fraud.
The victim reportedly became suspicious only after the accused demanded another INR 70,000. He then contacted the cybercrime helpline 1930 and lodged a complaint with the police.
Based on the complaint, the Jhansi Road Police Station registered an E-Zero FIR against unidentified accused persons and launched an investigation into the cyber fraud case.
Police officials have urged people to remain cautious while interacting with unknown individuals on social media platforms and warned against transferring money based on promises involving foreign currency, gifts or commissions.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 11, 2026 11:02 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).