Hyderabad teacher duped of ₹2.02 lakh by Facebook friend

A 41-year-old schoolteacher from Hyderabad fell victim to online manipulation after she was lured by a fraudster posing as a wealthy foreigner on Facebook. The scam, which began with a friendly message, ended with her losing ₹2.02 lakh in the name of bogus parcel clearances and certificates.

The scam started on December 23, 2024, when the teacher received a Facebook Messenger call from a user identifying himself as Tony William, supposedly a wealthy British man with properties in London and a soft spot for Indians. The man claimed he had no heirs and wanted to ‘gift’ part of his fortune, including a diamond ring and a gold chain, to the victim as a token of affection for her and her family.

The scammer also shared photographs of the supposed jewellery before informing her that the parcel had landed at Delhi Airport. He asked her to pay for an ‘IMF certificate’ to get it released. What followed was a series of manipulative demands under different pretexts. By the time the teacher realised she had been duped, she had already transferred over ₹2 lakh. She later filed a complaint online.

The police have urged citizens to preserve all chats, payment screenshots and contact details, and to immediately report such cases on www.cybercrime.gov.in or by dialling 1930. In case of emergencies, victims can also reach out on WhatsApp or call 8712665171.

Published - June 13, 2025 06:56 pm IST