'First Lady of Afghanistan' cons Mumbai man of Rs 5 lakh

MUMBAI: A 60-year-old accountant from Andheri was duped of Rs 5 lakh by cyber fraudsters recently. An FIR was registered on Saturday.
On February 18, the accountant had received an email from someone claiming to be the 'First Lady of Afghanistan'. She sought help from him to invest in India. She said $22 million would be remitted to him, of which 25% would be his commission and invest the rest in her name. The woman sent a copy of her passport and photos.
She told the accountant that her manager in Indonesia, Alto Beli, would contact him. On February 28, he got a WhatsApp call from Beli who said a bank account would have to be opened in his name in Indonesia. He asked for documentation and $ 360 for formalities. The complainant paid up. He was told that $ 22 million had been transferred into the Indonesian bank account, but he was unable to transfer the sum from the Indonesian bank to his Indian bank account.
After a week, Beli told him that it was an offshore account and conversion charges would have to be paid. The accountant paid Rs 5.09 lakh totally to the fraudsters, but never got the $ 22 million.
On April 4, as told by Beli, an African reached his home with a bag full of bundles which turned out of black paper and not US currency.