Facebook ‘friend’ cheats Pune businesswoman, takes Rs 28 lakh for ‘black magic’

Police said the woman came in contact with the accused man through a Facebook page in December 2024. Police said the complainant and the accused never came face to face, but used to interact online and used to speak over the phone.

The woman told the accused that her daughter was suffering from certain problems. Police said the accused gained the woman’s confidence and assured to solve these problems by performing rituals and ‘black magic’.

The accused allegedly asked the woman to transfer money into different accounts from time to time for conducting the ‘black magic and langar’.

Accordingly, within a span of seven days, between December 23 and December 31, 2024, the woman transferred Rs 28,88,722 into multiple bank accounts, as per the instructions of the accused. But the condition of her daughter did not improve.

She soon realised that her “friend” had cheated her and approached the police. Based on her complaint, the police have booked the accused and his associates on charges of cheating.

Assistant police inspector Anil Kekan, the investigation officer said, “Complainant is a businesswoman. She came in contact with the accused over FB. No arrest has been made yet in this case. A probe is on.”