Woman posts ad on website for selling guitar, duped of ₹38,000

GURUGRAM: A 42-year-old woman, a resident of Sector 50, was allegedly duped of ₹38,000 by a conman after she posted an advertisement on a website to sell her guitar, the police said.

A case was registered at Sector 50 police station on Monday after a six-month-long investigation.

The woman, a corporate trainer, said that she wanted to sell her acoustic guitar and had placed an advertisement on a mobile application wherein second-hand goods are purchased and sold.

“I had uploaded the picture of my guitar and asked for ₹38,000. Within two hours, I received a call from an interested buyer. He sounded genuine, so I didn’t doubt his intentions,” the complainant said, requesting anonymity. She said, “He called me on June 3 and said he saw the advertisement and liked the guitar. He said he was looking for one to buy for his son and as he was working in Gurugram, it would be easier for him to collect it. After the conversation, he said his son did not have enough cash but he could transfer the amount online immediately.”

The woman said she agreed, as she had no reason to doubt him. The suspect further said that his son would transfer the amount to her account through an e-wallet.

“I was reluctant as I had never used a mobile wallet and was not acquainted with its features. He said it was the only payment method they had so I installed the application and configured it on my mobile. To my utter surprise, in no time, he emptied my account of ₹38,000 in five transactions and I couldn’t do anything to stop him. He left me stunned,” the woman said.

After the money was transferred, the suspect switched off his phone. The woman called the bank’s customer care to block her account, net banking and debit card, and lodged a complaint regarding the fraud transactions.

Karan Goyal, assistant commissioner of police, said, “There are more than 20 such complaints and we have formed teams who are conducting raids at suspected locations. We have received a lead in the case .”

AFTER THE MONEY WAS TRANSFERRED, THE SUSPECT SWITCHED OFF HIS PHONE FOLLOWING WHICH THE WOMAN LODGED A FIR