Mangaluru (Karnataka): A cyber fraud case has come to light in Udupi district of Karnataka, where a 66-year-old man allegedly lost ₹5.11 lakh after being lured with a fake club membership offer. The accused allegedly promised him membership of the Friendship Club and assured him of special benefits, following which money was transferred online in multiple stages. After realising that he had been cheated, the victim approached the police and lodged a complaint.
According to police, the victim, a resident of Udupi Town, stated in his complaint that an unidentified person contacted him and offered him membership of the Friendship Club. The accused allegedly explained various facilities, special services, and benefits associated with the membership in an attempt to gain his confidence. During their conversation, the accused allegedly created an impression that the victim would receive several attractive benefits after completing the membership process.
As per the complaint, the accused asked the victim to make payments in the name of registration charges, membership formalities, and other procedures. Trusting the claims made by the accused, the elderly man transferred money multiple times from his State Bank of India (SBI) account.
The victim stated that he transferred a total amount of ₹5.11 lakh between June 27 and July 14, 2026 through online transactions. However, even after making the payments, he neither received the club membership nor any promised service or benefit. After waiting for some time, he became suspicious and attempted to contact the accused, but failed to get a satisfactory response. He then realised that he had become a victim of fraud.
Following this, the victim informed his family members and approached the police. Udupi Town Police registered a case against the unidentified accused and started an investigation. The police have booked the accused under Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for cheating and Section 66(D) of the Information Technology Act for cheating by personation using computer resources.
During the initial investigation, police are collecting details of the bank accounts where the fraudulently obtained money was transferred. Investigators are also examining the mobile numbers, digital platforms, and other communication channels allegedly used by the accused to contact the victim. Police are trying to determine whether an organised cybercrime gang was involved in the fraud.
Cybercrime experts said that fraudsters often target people through fake offers related to online memberships, investment schemes, jobs, lotteries, dating services, or exclusive facilities. They use attractive promises and continuous communication to build trust and pressure victims into making quick payments. Elderly citizens are often targeted in such scams because criminals exploit their confidence and emotions.
Experts advise people to verify the authenticity of any online service or membership offer before making payments. Checking official websites, registration details, company credentials, and payment procedures is essential before transferring money to any unknown person or organisation.
Police have appealed to citizens not to trust attractive offers, suspicious links, or payment instructions received from unknown individuals without proper verification. People should immediately inform their banks and report suspicious online transactions to cybercrime authorities so that timely action can be taken and potential financial losses can be reduced.
