Old Goa Police have arrested a man from Kolkata, West Bengal, for allegedly cheating a 71-year-old resident out of ₹3.13 lakh by posing as a representative of a free shopping scheme over a WhatsApp call.
The accused, identified as Suman Ghughu, reportedly contacted the elderly victim through WhatsApp, claiming to offer a lucrative shopping deal requiring advance payments to claim rewards. Believing the offer to be genuine, the victim transferred ₹3.13 lakh over multiple transactions.
Police said the fraud came to light when the complainant realised the scheme was fake and approached Old Goa Police Station.
Investigators traced the transactions and tracked the accused to Kolkata before taking him into custody.
Suman Ghughu has been booked under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code pertaining to cheating and criminal breach of trust. He is currently in police custody as further investigation continues.
Authorities have urged the public, especially senior citizens, to exercise caution and avoid sharing personal or financial information with unknown callers offering schemes or prizes.