MANGALURU: A 65- year-old woman from Amtady in
Bantwal has lost a pair of a gold earring after a
fraudster convinced her that she has won nearly Rs 1.70 lakh as
corona money. To claim the said amount, a receipt for Rs 10,000 would be issued at the
taluk Office.
The Bantwal town police, that is investigating the case, stated that the incident took place on Monday morning when the victim identified as Jayanthi had been to the Mescom office to pay the electricity bill. When she was returning, a stranger approached her and introduced himself as Santhosh and claimed that he knew the victim really well and used to visit her house often. He then told her that in the wake of the Covid-19
pandemic, she would be compensated with Rs 1.70 lakh and accompanied her to the taluk office to claim that money.
At the taluk office, he allegedly told her that a receipt for Rs 10,000 has to be issued for her to receive the amount. He convinces her that he has around Rs 5,000 and she would have to give Rs 5,000. The lady tells him that she would like to speak to her son before handing over the money.
After collecting her son’s number from her, he pretends as if he has spoken to her son over the phone and after the call, convinces her that her son has asked her to hand over her gold earrings, which she willingly does, following which, he is not to be seen around. On realising that she has been duped, she approaches the police.
The case is under investigation and the CCTV footage is being examined.