Woman loses Rs 12 lakh trying to save 'UK friend' from detention

Bengaluru, NT Bureau: A Bengaluru-based woman allegedly lost Rs 12 lakh to an unidentified person who befriended her over a Facebook account claiming to be a resident of the United Kingdom(UK).

In her complaint to the Cybercrime Police, Bengaluru West, the resident of Rajarajeshwari Nagar claimed that the accused had introduced himself as Rolan James Damian, based in the UK.

Later, the two became friends and also exchanged phone numbers. The woman alleged the accused called her four days ago and claimed he had landed at Delhi airport.

He told her that he needed to pay Rs 80,000 to get a yellow card to exchange 60,000 UK pounds. He said the immigration officer had insisted the fee had to be paid in Indian currency. The victim transferred the amount.

After a few minutes, a person claiming to be an 'immigration officer' asked her to pay Rs 11.2 lakh failing which Roland would be detained. The victim was made to transfer this amount into five accounts but later, Roland's mobile phone was switched off.