Hyderabad Student Duped Of Rs 2.6 Lakh While Trying To Buy Avocados Online

While trying to buy avocados online, a 23-year-old Hyderabadi student was defrauded of Rs 2.6 lakh by cybercriminals. He discovered a Vijayawada-based provider while searching. Scammers, however, approached him posing as representatives of a fruit export business.

In order to pay for the fuel costs for the avocado delivery, the scammers first requested that the student send money. The victim believed them and obeyed. The con artists later sent him a picture purportedly depicting the scene of the collision and told him that their delivery car had broken down. The student once again provided the additional funds they needed for repairs.

The scammers then demanded more money, claiming they were only 10 kilometers away and that traffic police had stopped them, according to cybercrime officials. By expressing regret and delivering a picture of a check with the promise that the money will be returned, they kept gaining the victim's trust. Despite his initial reluctance, the student eventually gave his bank account information and made additional payments since he believed the check was authentic.

The scammers also sought payments under a number of false pretenses, such as via a third-party intermediary to avoid GST. The scammers threatened the student and said that the check would not be sent until additional payments were received when he eventually refused to send any more money.

After losing Rs 2.6 lakh, the student realized he had been duped and complained to the Cybercrime Police. An inquiry is in progress.