Saharanpur: Cyber fraudsters allegedly cheated a woman doctor of around ₹6.33 lakh after luring her with an offer to buy an iPhone-18 at half the price through Telegram.
The scammers initially asked her to pay just ₹1,000 as a pre-booking amount to gain her confidence. They allegedly followed it with repeated demands for money under various pretexts, including working charges, shipping charges and the threat of her account being put on hold.
Cyber Crime Police have registered an FIR following the complaint and started an investigation.
Telegram Offer Promised iPhone at Half Price
Dr Asma Ahmed, a resident of Janaknagar Takiya in the Janakpuri police station area, told police that she received a message on Telegram claiming that an iPhone-18 was available at half the market price.
Interested in the offer, she contacted the Telegram account mentioned in the message. During the conversation, the alleged fraudsters asked her to deposit a pre-booking amount to reserve the phone.
According to her complaint, the accused asked for ₹1,000 as a pre-booking payment on September 15. She transferred the amount through UPI from her SBI account.
The same day, she was allegedly asked to make another payment of ₹2,000 followed by ₹3,999 as working charges.
Additional Charges Followed the Initial Payment
After obtaining the initial payments, the alleged scammers continued introducing new charges and reasons for additional transfers.
On September 17, they allegedly demanded ₹22,043 as shipping charges, which was transferred from her Union Bank account.
The following day, September 18, two separate payments of ₹44,086 each were reportedly made. The payments were presented as necessary for completing the phone delivery process, according to the complaint.
Threat of Account Hold Used to Demand More Money
On September 19, the alleged fraudsters reportedly created another sense of urgency by warning the woman that her account could be put on hold if the required amount was not deposited.
She then transferred ₹19,570 from her SBI account and ₹7,280 each through her Union Bank account in two separate transactions.
The demands allegedly continued through her SBI account and YONO Cash. On September 20 and 21, she reportedly transferred thousands of rupees in separate instalments. Another payment was also made on September 22.
What began with a ₹1,000 pre-booking payment eventually resulted in an alleged loss of around ₹6.33 lakh.
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How the Alleged Fraud Was Carried Out
The case highlights a common pattern seen in online shopping scams involving expensive electronic products.
The alleged fraudsters first offered a high-value smartphone at an unusually low price and asked for a relatively small amount, making the transaction appear genuine.
Once the initial payment was made, additional charges were allegedly introduced for different stages of the supposed delivery process.
The scammers allegedly used terms such as working charges and shipping charges before creating fear around the victim’s bank account. By presenting each payment as necessary to complete the transaction or prevent an account-related problem, they allegedly persuaded the victim to continue making transfers.
Police Examine Bank and Digital Payment Trail
Police have registered an FIR and are examining the bank accounts and digital payment channels involved in the transactions.
Investigators are also trying to determine where the money was transferred and identify the people operating the accounts. Further investigation is expected to establish the identities and roles of those involved.
Such scams often target customers looking for expensive smartphones, electronic goods or other products at prices significantly below the market rate.
The initial payment is usually kept small so that the transaction appears relatively safe. After that, fraudsters may demand money in the name of delivery charges, taxes, shipping, verification, account activation or other supposed requirements.
The repeated-payment pattern can cause victims to lose substantial amounts before they realise that the promised product is never going to arrive.
In this case, the transaction reportedly continued over several days, with different payment demands being made through bank accounts and digital payment channels.
The investigating officer said an FIR has been registered in the case. Police are now examining the transaction details, bank accounts and digital payment records mentioned in the complaint as part of the investigation.
What This Means For You
An unusually expensive product offered at a dramatically reduced price on Telegram or other messaging platforms should be treated with caution, particularly when the seller keeps introducing new charges after the initial payment. Avoid making additional payments simply because a seller claims they are required for shipping, verification or account activation.
The420 Insight
The case shows how an apparently small ₹1,000 payment can become the entry point for a much larger fraud. Repeated demands framed as routine charges can gradually normalise additional payments and make victims continue transferring money even after the transaction begins showing warning signs.
About the Author – Ananya Aradhya writes on cybercrime, fraud, scams, cybersecurity, digital safety, and emerging threats. Her work also covers major criminal cases, financial frauds, consumer scams, and stories that highlight risks affecting people in the real and digital world.
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