PUNE: A 56-year-old retired Indian Army Colonel has become the latest victim of cybercrime after being duped of ₹5.3 lakh by fraudsters posing as spiritual service providers on Facebook. The incident highlights growing concerns over religious scams exploiting digital platforms.
Facebook Ad Led to Costly Spiritual Scam
According to the FIR lodged at Wanavdi Police Station on July 21, the retired officer — now running a private security firm in Pune — encountered a Facebook page titled Chanchala Mata Trust. The page advertised “online pooja” services.
Intrigued, the Colonel contacted the listed number and was guided via WhatsApp through what was claimed to be a process for conducting virtual prayers. The fraudsters sent him a QR scanner and cost breakdown, initiating the scam with an initial payment of ₹1,100 through Google Pay.
However, over the following three weeks (June 17 to July 9), the fraudsters repeatedly demanded more funds under various pretexts, including a promised “ring through Amazon.” The victim transferred a total of ₹4.82 lakh without receiving any pooja or item.
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Attempt to Recover Funds Led to Further Theft
Matters worsened when the ex-officer tried to recover his losses. He reached out to a number he believed belonged to PayPal customer care. The new set of fraudsters persuaded him to download a suspicious file on his phone. Following this, ₹48,000 was siphoned from his bank account without authorisation.
Realising he had been duped, the Colonel reported the matter to Wanavdi police. Senior Inspector Satyajit Admane confirmed that an investigation is underway. Authorities are tracing the WhatsApp and bank account details used in the scam.
This case reflects a growing trend of cybercriminals exploiting emotional and spiritual sentiments through social media, preying particularly on elderly and retired citizens.