Lucknow woman loses ₹2 lakh to ‘brothers’ on Instagram who promised her lavish wedding gifts

A Lucknow woman met three men on Instagram who said they were her “brothers” and “family”. Subsequently, they duped her of ₹2 lakh.

Published on: May 15, 2024, 08:37:23 IST

By Trisha Sengupta

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A woman in Lucknow fell prey to scammers and lost nearly ₹2 lakh in a wedding gift scam. According to reports, the fraudsters pretended to be her “brothers” on Instagram and promised to send her lavish gifts for her wedding.

Scammers duped a Lucknow woman of her money by telling her that her wedding gift was seized at the airport (representational image). (Unsplash/miagolic)

The woman communicated with three men whom she met on the social media platform, reported the Times of India (TOI). They assured her they were her “brothers” and would send her various gifts for her wedding. With constant communication, they gained her trust.

Also Read: Businessman in Gujarat ends up losing ₹95 lakh in cyber scam because of 'Facebook friend'

According to the outlet, one of the scammers eventually reached out to the woman and said a shipment they were sending to her was seized at the airport. They demanded a sizable amount for its release. When the woman appeared hesitant, they threatened her and claimed that the legal agencies were involved. The woman subsequently sent nearly ₹2 lakh to the men through the QR code they provided.

Also Read: Woman tries buying 4 dozen eggs for ₹49 online in Bengaluru, ends up losing ₹48,000. Here’s what happened

“After days of communication, one of them, Ravi Kumar, contacted me via phone and assured me that they would provide expensive wedding items for me. For this, they requested my Aadhar card, photos, and other documents for shipping purposes," Salmay told the police, reported TOI.

According to the outlet, the police have confirmed that an FIR has been lodged regarding the matter, and investigations are underway.

Police departments often use social media to spread awareness about scammers who con people out of their money. The departments warn people against trusting strangers on social media and sharing personal details. They also issue reminders about choosing stronger passwords and multi-level verifications for online accounts.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Trisha Sengupta
Trisha Sengupta works as Chief Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over six years of experience in the digital newsroom. Known for her ability to decode the internet’s most talked-about moments, she specialises in high-engagement storytelling that bridges the gap between viral trends and traditional journalism. Throughout her tenure, Trisha has focused on the intersection of technology, finance, and human emotion. She frequently covers personal finance and real estate struggles in hubs like Gurgaon, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, while also documenting the unique challenges of the NRI experience. Her work often highlights the movements and philosophies of global newsmakers and personalities like Elon Musk, Mukesh Ambani, Nikhil Kamath, Dubai crown prince, and MrBeast. From reporting on Amazon or Meta layoffs and startup culture to the emergence of AI-driven platforms like Grok and xAI, she provides a grounded and empathetic perspective on the stories shaping our world. When not decoding the internet, Trisha is likely offline: lost in a book, exploring a historical ruin, or navigating the world as a solo traveler. She balances her fast-paced career with family time and a healthy dose of curiosity, currently trading her "human" sources for silicon ones as she masters AI to future-proof her storytelling.Read More

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