MANDI, January 18 (Munish Sood)
Even well-known individuals in Himachal Pradesh are not immune to the rising wave of online fraud, as a recent incident has highlighted.
This time, the victim is Neeraj Bharti, son of Agriculture Minister Chander Kumar and a former Chief Parliamentary Secretary (CPS), who fell prey to an elaborate scam.
In a disconcerting turn of events, Neeraj Bharti was defrauded of approximately ₹1 lakh, falling victim to an online fraud disguised as an advance payment for a resort booking.
Bharti, searching for a vacation spot in Goa, came across an enticing offer for a resort named ‘Cara Villa.’
The package was priced at ₹2.48 lakh, prompting Bharti to transfer ₹1 lakh as an advance via GooglePay. He received a receipt confirming the payment.
However, his vacation plans soon turned into a nightmare. After making the payment, Bharti discovered that there was no resort named ‘Cara Villa’ in Goa. Realising he had been duped, he filed a complaint with the police.
Upon receiving Bharti’s complaint, the police acted swiftly and registered an FIR at the Chhota Shimla police station.
The FIR was filed under Section 318(4) of the Indian Penal Code. The police assured that they would leave no stone unturned in bringing those responsible for the fraud to justice.
This incident sheds light on a disturbing trend in the digital age, where even prominent figures are falling victim to scams that target unsuspecting individuals through fraudulent online platforms.
With the increasing reliance on online services, the scope for such scams has grown exponentially, making it crucial for citizens to stay vigilant.
In response to this rising threat, police officials have issued an advisory urging citizens to exercise caution while making online transactions. They emphasised the importance of verifying websites and resort listings before making any payments. Furthermore, individuals were advised to use only trusted and verified platforms for online payments to minimise the risk of falling prey to similar scams.
