A court in Gujarat’s Amreli district has sentenced a Nigerian woman to seven years of simple imprisonment in a ₹14 lakh cyber fraud case, holding her guilty under multiple provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Information Technology Act. The case relates to a carefully orchestrated online scam involving social media deception, a fake international courier company and false promises of a valuable gift from London.
The court awarded the maximum punishment under Section 420 (cheating) of the IPC. The accused was also convicted under Sections 467 (forgery of valuable security), 468 (forgery for the purpose of cheating), 471 (using forged documents as genuine), along with Section 66(D) of the Information Technology Act, which deals with cheating by personation using computer resources. A monetary fine was imposed in addition to the prison term.
The case dates back to June 2023, when the complainant, Piyushbhai Thumar, a resident of Savarkundla town in Amreli district, was contacted through the social media platform Instagram. The accused posed as a foreign-based acquaintance and gradually gained the victim’s trust through sustained online interaction.
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After establishing rapport, the woman claimed that she was sending a “surprise gift” or valuable parcel from London to the complainant. Shortly thereafter, the victim began receiving emails and phone calls purportedly from a courier service named ‘Skye Elite Logistics’. These communications demanded payments towards customs duty, income tax, currency conversion charges and other fabricated fees for the release of the parcel.
Believing the communications to be genuine, the complainant transferred money in multiple instalments. Over time, a total amount of ₹14.09 lakh was paid under various pretexts. Despite repeated assurances, no parcel was delivered and communication eventually ceased, prompting the victim to realise that he had been defrauded.
A formal complaint was lodged at the Amreli Cyber Crime Police Station on July 20, 2023, following which a detailed technical investigation was initiated. Investigators analysed call detail records (CDRs), suspect data records (SDRs), Google login information, and other digital footprints. This exercise revealed the presence of an international cyber fraud link.
Further investigation established that the accused had obtained a Tata Play broadband connection in Gurugram, Haryana, using a forged passport. Acting on technical inputs, the cyber crime team traced and arrested her from Gurugram. During searches, authorities recovered six mobile phones, one laptop and two fake passports from her possession.
The case relied heavily on forensic evidence. Reports from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Gandhinagar, along with corroborative inputs from agencies such as the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED), confirmed that the documents and digital identities used by the accused were forged and fabricated for the purpose of committing fraud.
During the trial, the prosecution examined 11 witnesses and submitted 142 documentary exhibits. Data obtained from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) was also placed on record, strengthening the digital trail linking the accused to the offence.
In its observations, the court described the offence as a well-planned cyber crime, exploiting social media platforms and the victim’s trust for financial gain. The judgment noted that such scams pose a serious threat to unsuspecting citizens, particularly those unfamiliar with online fraud tactics, and underscored the need for strict punishment to act as a deterrent.
Investigating agencies said the verdict would serve as a strong precedent in cyber crime prosecutions, especially those involving foreign nationals operating through digital means within India. Citizens have been advised to exercise caution when receiving messages related to foreign gifts, courier parcels or lottery winnings, and to verify the authenticity of any demand for payments before transferring money.
About the author – Rehan Khan is a law student and legal journalist with a keen interest in cybercrime, digital fraud, and emerging technology laws. He writes on the intersection of law, cybersecurity, and online safety, focusing on developments that impact individuals and institutions in India.
