Udupi woman loses Rs 3.55 lakh in scratch and win scam

UDUPI: A woman from Brahmavar, who participated in a scratch and win offer, lost about Rs 3.55 lakh to online fraudsters.
The complainant, Pallavi, 29, a resident of Neelavara, Brahmavara, in her complaint, said that she had made an online purchase through an online retailer, and a few days later, she received a scratch and win coupon through post on April 25.
After scratching the coupon, it was displayed that she won Rs 12 lakh.An overjoyed Pallavi called the number given in the letter. A person who identified himself as Ashwin Kumar, answered, and said that he is a representative of the company, and confirmed that she won Rs 12 lakh. He also advised Pallavi to deposit about Rs 3,55,800 for expenses against GST, security deposit, services and others.
Without thinking twice, Pallavi deposited the amount to the given bank account number. However, when Ashwin Kumar did not revert with her prize, after she paid the charges, she realised that she had been cheated. A case has been registered at CEN cyber crime police station in Udupi in this regard.