Bengaluru: Doctor loses Rs 1.6L while trying to purchase cement

BENGALURU: A 51-year-old medical practitioner from Yelahanka lost Rs 1.6 lakh after placing an online order for cement sacks on June 17.
Dr Sharan (name changed), a resident of Yelahanka, told police that he had started the construction of a residential building at Judicial Layout recently and was purchasing a sack of cement for over Rs 370. He recently received a WhatsApp message informing him that cement is available for Rs 320 per sack.He evinced interest to purchase cement to save money.
According to police sources, Sharan placed the order for 500 sacks of cement on June 17 and transferred Rs 1.6 lakh to the bank account provided by the suspect. The miscreant promised Sharan that he would deliver the cement on June 20. But Sharan did not get the cement and tried to contact the suspect to enquire. But he found that the suspect’s mobile was switched off. He realized that he had been tricked by the cybercriminal and lost money.
Sharan approached the northeast CEN crime police on June 27 and filed a complaint against unknown persons. Police have registered a cheating and cybercrime case and efforts are on to trace and arrest the miscreant.