SMS scam: How an Indian man lost Rs 18 lakh

The complainant B Vasu,a school teacher in Nalgonda district received an SMS last month stating that his cell number won four lakh British pounds in a ‘Microsoft Anniversary Promo’ lottery,they said.

He was asked to contact an email ID to realise the amount which the victim contacted and was made to believe that he had

won the prize,CID IGP Umapathi told reporters here.

One Mark,disguised as a diplomat,came to Hyderabad with a box containing currency notes (prize amount) coated with black colour and handed over the box to the victim after cleaning two notes (USD 100 notes) with a “special chemical” after which the victim found the notes genuine,he said.

“After this,Mark went back to Delhi and started demanding money from the victim to get the cleaning chemical to turn the remaining notes into “original form”. Thus,on different pretext for the price of chemical,delivery charges,customs fee and NOC respectively,the victim was made to pay Rs 18.42 lakh into different bank accounts including Rs 15 lakh in cash to Mark who again came to Hyderabad on January 6,” Umapati said.

As Mark did not respond further,the victim finally found that the “special chemical” and the lottery prize amount was all fake and he was cheated. Vasu then approached the Cyber Crime Police here and during the course of investigation the Crime Investigation Department arrested five Nigerians from Vasant Vihar in New Delhi on January 24,he said.

Police also recovered three laptops,10 mobile phones and SIM cards from the Nigerian nationals who were identified as Joseph Ifeanyi alias Mark,Smart Chidi Oko,Jacob Obuh,Iruka Jonathan and Jerry Douglas.

“On verification four of the accused were found not in possession of valid travel documents. All of them were brought on a transit warrant to Hyderabad and have been remanded,” Umapati added.