A 28-year-old trader hailing from Balewadi fell prey to an online gold fraud, losing a substantial amount of Rs3.5 lakh in the process. The trader, who conducts his business online, reported the incident to the Chatushrungi police, detailing how he was tricked by an unknown individual offering gold at discounted rates.
The victim’s account reveals that the suspect initially reached out to him with an enticing proposition – the opportunity to purchase gold at rates lower than the prevailing market prices. When the trader expressed interest, the scammer requested an advance payment of Rs3.50 lakh for a sample of the precious metal. However, after transferring the money, the victim never received the promised gold and was left without any recourse.
An official from the Chatushrungi police informed TOI that the trader’s ordeal began when he came across an advertisement for palm oil trading on social media platforms in December last year. Although the initial deal did not materialize, the same contact number associated with the ad resurfaced a few days later, this time offering the attractive prospect of purchasing gold at a discount.
Eager to take advantage of the offer, the trader agreed to the terms and requested a 100gm gold sample for verification. The scammer, however, insisted on an advance payment of Rs3.50 lakh before sending the sample. Trusting the offer, the trader transferred the money, only to be left empty-handed after six months of follow-ups.
As the promised gold failed to materialize and his efforts to recover the money proved fruitless, the trader turned to the cyber police in June this year to report the incident. Following a preliminary investigation, the Chatushrungi police have now registered a case in connection with the online gold fraud.
This unfortunate incident serves as a reminder of the potential risks associated with online transactions and the importance of verifying the legitimacy of offers before parting with any funds.
