Online gift fraud: Pune woman duped of Rs 18.12 lakhs by Facebook friend

An online fraudster who befriended a Pune woman on Facebook has duped her of Rs 18.12 lakh on the pretext of sending her an expensive gift.

Based on the complaint of the 43-year-old victim, an FIR has been lodged at the Wanavdi police station under Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code and various sections of the Information Technology Act.

Police said a person using a Facebook account in the name of ‘Droscar Santiago’ sent a friend request to the woman in December 2020. She accepted the friend request and the duo started interacting. They later spoke to each other over the phone. The fraudster claimed he was a foreigner and told the complainant that he had sent a costly gift for her.