Ram Nagar resident duped of Rs. 4.2 lakhs in fake antique coin sale scam

Hyderabad: A 74-year-old resident of Ram Nagar, Hyderabad, lost ₹4.27 lakhs after falling victim to an online scam involving the sale of old coins. The victim responded to a Facebook advertisement claiming high prices for antique coins and contacted the number provided, where he was misled by individuals including one named Manoj Kumar.

The fraudsters claimed the victim’s coins were worth ₹72 lakhs and demanded multiple payments for supposed registration, verification, RBI NOC, travel, lodging, courier, and other charges. Between February 14 and March 26, the victim made about 28 UPI transactions totaling ₹4,27,590.

After receiving the money, the accused stopped responding properly and began threatening the victim when asked for the promised payment. The victim, now facing financial difficulties after borrowing money from relatives, reported the case to the cyber-crime police station.

 Public Advisory: Beware of Online Antique Coin Scams

• Do not trust offers promising large sums for old coins without proper verification.
• Avoid paying any upfront fees for approvals, verifications, or registrations.
• Verify the identity and legitimacy of buyers before engaging.
• Do not share personal documents or photos unless you are certain of the recipient’s credibility.

Victims of cybercrime fraud should immediately call 1930 or visit cybercrime.gov.in. For emergencies, contact 8712665171.