Highlights

• Mumbai businessman, 75, duped of Rs 3.3 crore in a cyber fraud involving a fake Ukrainian woman.
• Fraudulent scheme initiated through email, promising a business partnership.
• Victim made payments to 101 different accounts over eight months.
• Incident highlights increasing cases of elaborate online scams targeting individuals.

A 75-year-old businessman from Mumbai fell victim to a sophisticated cyber fraud, losing Rs 3.3 crore to a scammer posing as a Ukrainian woman.

The businessman, who owns a private company, was deceived through a series of emails and calls under the guise of a business partnership.

How The Scam Unfolds

As per a report by TOI, The scam began when the businessman received an email from a woman named Esema from Ukraine.

She expressed interest in starting a business in India, citing the war in Ukraine as a reason for shifting her business interests.

Initially, she inquired about buying machinery from his company but later proposed sending him a box of cash worth $9.7 lakh (around Rs 8 crore).

The businessman received a tracking ID for the supposed courier box. However, he was soon informed that Indonesian authorities had seized the box in Jakarta.

To release the box, he was instructed to pay various fees to multiple accounts in India.

Over eight months, the businessman followed the instructions of the scammer and her accomplices, making payments to 101 different accounts.

He was repeatedly asked to send money for clearance certificates, transfer fees, and submit various documents, including income tax reports and insurance documents.

Similar Cases of Online Scams

This incident is not isolated. Similar cases have been reported where victims are promised parcels or money from overseas contacts.

In one such case, a woman was scammed by her connection on Bumble, who claimed to be detained by authorities for carrying excess money.

These incidents highlight a pattern of online scams targeting individuals through fabricated stories and false promises.

FAQs

How did the Mumbai businessman get involved in the cyber fraud?

The businessman was contacted via email by a scammer posing as a Ukrainian woman. She proposed a business partnership, eventually claiming to send him a box of cash, leading him into the fraudulent scheme.

What were the businessman’s actions that led to the loss?

Following the scammer’s instructions, the businessman made payments to 101 different accounts in India, believing it would release a cash-filled box supposedly seized by authorities.

How much money did the businessman lose in total?

Over a period of eight months, the businessman ended up paying a total of Rs 3.3 crore in the hope of receiving the promised cash, which turned out to be non-existent.