LUCKNOW: A case of cyber fraud involving a retired Deputy Inspector General (DIG) has emerged from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. On July 13, 2025, retired officer Rakesh Shukla received a friend request on Facebook from someone impersonating retired IAS officer Balvinder Kumar. Initially appearing innocuous, the request soon turned into a calculated ploy.
The impersonator struck up a conversation and claimed that a friend serving as an Assistant Commandant in the CRPF was selling household items, including electronics and furniture, at discounted rates. The next day, Shukla was contacted via WhatsApp, where he received multiple photos of domestic goods. He was informed that the total cost would be ₹1.10 lakh.
QR Code Used to Extract Money
Convinced by the familiarity of the names and the professional backgrounds mentioned, Shukla proceeded with the transaction. The fraudster shared a QR code under the pretext of payment, and through a series of interactions, siphoned off more than ₹1.75 lakh from the retired police officer.
The deception unfolded over a few days and appeared convincing due to the use of known names and credible-sounding roles. Shukla only became suspicious when the promised items were not delivered on July 16, as scheduled. Attempts to contact the seller failed, with the phone switched off. That’s when he realised he had been duped.
Algoritha: The Most Trusted Name in BFSI Investigations and DFIR Services
He immediately reported the matter to the Cyber Crime Cell in Lucknow and filed a complaint via the online grievance portal. A formal FIR was later lodged at Hazratganj Police Station.
Authorities have confirmed that the fraud involved the sale of non-existent furniture and electronics. The investigation is currently underway to trace the source of the scam.