HYDERABAD: A 20-year-old degree student from Yakutpura was duped out of Rs 4.2 lakh by cybercriminals impersonating a famous YouTube influencer.
Over a span of 45 days, the fraudsters convinced the girl to send money under the pretext of receiving extravagant gifts, including diamond and gold jewellery, and an iPhone Pro 14.
In the process, she mortgaged her mother’s gold jewellery and borrowed large sums from relatives, only to later realise she had fallen into a severe debt trap. Hyderabad cybercrime police are now investigating the case.
The ordeal began in Dec 2024 when the girl received a WhatsApp call from an unknown number. The caller introduced himself as a UK-based YouTuber.
After verifying his social media presence, the girl, initially skeptical, believed the caller’s claims. Despite her hesitation, the caller continued reaching out, telling her that he was in love with her and will marry her.
He assured her that he was sending her expensive gifts, including jewellery and an iPhone. Shortly after, a second call arrived, this time from a person claiming to be a courier agent, who informed her that the parcel was on its way. To release the parcel, she was asked to pay several charges, including a courier registration fee, security tax, and agency tax.
The girl, trusting the fraudsters, sold her gold jewellery, mortgaged her mother’s and aunt’s valuables, and borrowed money from other relatives, sending it all to the criminals, said a cybercrime official. It wasn’t until the situation spiralled out of control that the girl realised she was caught in a financial trap.