Instagram Friendship Ad Costs Ahmedabad Youth Rs 9.5 Lakh in Cyber Scam

A 24-year-old man living in a paying guest accommodation in Ahmedabad was defrauded of ₹9.50 lakh after responding to a sponsored advertisement on Instagram offering friendship with women.

The victim, originally from Madhya Pradesh and residing in the city's Paldi area, came across the advertisement on the social media platform and contacted the phone number provided. The operator, who identified himself as Hukamsingh, initially charged a registration fee of ₹500 before sending photos of four to five women to choose from.

After the young man selected a woman, Hukamsingh directed him to a hotel in Paldi and demanded ₹14,000 to cover meeting charges and hotel room rent. However, as delays mounted, the youth decided to cancel the service. The operator assured him that the full amount would be refunded the following morning.

The Scam Unfolds

Instead of returning the money, the fraudster repeatedly contacted the victim, demanding further payments under various pretexts. Over subsequent transactions, money was deposited into multiple bank accounts and UPI IDs under the guise of service cancellation charges, service renewal fees, refund processing fees, and mandatory banking procedures.

By the time the victim realized he was being duped, he had transferred a total of ₹9.50 lakh.

Following the realization that no refund was forthcoming, the youth approached the Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Branch and lodged an official complaint. The Cyber Crime Police have registered a case based on his complaint and initiated a detailed investigation to trace the bank accounts, UPI IDs, and individuals involved in the racket.