Cyber fraudsters exploit minor girl’s disappearance, extort Rs 15,000 from father

Pune: Cyber fraudsters took advantage of the disappearance of a 17-year-old girl and extorted Rs 15,000 from her father by using morphed images to falsely claim that she was being held captive.The fraud took place during the 17-hour period between the girl’s disappearance on Friday and her recovery on Saturday.The Kondhwa police successfully traced the missing girl to Jharkhand and reunited her with her family. Following her disappearance, the father had shared her photograph on social media in an effort to locate her. He had also lodged a kidnapping complaint at the Kondhwa police station.On Saturday, the Kondhwa police registered a separate case against the cyber fraudsters who made the fake kidnapping video call.

Efforts are underway to identify and apprehend those involved.According to police, the complainant, a native of Bihar who lives with his family in Kondhwa, suspected that his daughter had been lured away and kidnapped by an unknown person.“After the complaint was filed, we launched a search operation immediately and analysed CCTV footage and technical data,” an officer from Kondhwa police said.“During the course of investigation, the father received a video call from an unknown number.

The caller claimed that his daughter was in their custody and demanded Rs 50,000 for her release. A QR code was also sent for the transfer of money. During the call, the father was shown footage of the girl with her hands and legs tied, leaving him terrified. Fearing for his daughter’s safety, he transferred Rs 15,000 in three instalments of Rs 5,000 each to the account provided by the caller,” the officer said.Meanwhile, the police examined CCTV footage from Pune railway station and discovered that the girl had boarded the Azad Hind Express bound for Howrah.

“We informed the complainant that his daughter had been located, but the fraudster continued to contact him and demand more money under the pretext of a reward,” he said.“We contacted railway authorities immediately and tracked the train’s route. After learning that the train was scheduled to arrive in Tatanagar in Jharkhand, we coordinated with the Government Railway Police and railway officials there,” the officer said.Railway police and staff at Tatanagar successfully located the girl and took her into safe custody, police said.“A team from the Kondhwa police, accompanied by the complainant, travelled to Jharkhand, brought the girl back safely, and reunited her with her parents,” he added.