A Vadodara woman allegedly lost ₹92,997 after responding to an Instagram advertisement for dresses and later falling victim to a fake refund scheme.
According to her complaint, Kalpanaben Kishanbhai Kahar, who sells sarees from home, came across the advertisement while browsing Instagram reels on September 6. She contacted the seller through WhatsApp and selected two dresses priced at ₹2,949.
The seller shared a payment scanner, through which Kahar paid the amount using Google Pay. She was reportedly assured that the dresses would be delivered within three to five days.
When the order failed to arrive by September 15, Kahar contacted the seller again. She was allegedly told that the order had been cancelled and that a manager would call her to arrange a refund.
Soon after, she received a call from an unknown number. The caller allegedly posed as a refund representative and guided her through a series of steps on Google Pay, asking her to enter her UPI PIN.
Following the instructions, several unauthorized transactions were made from her bank account. A total of ₹92,997 was allegedly withdrawn.
Kahar subsequently approached the police and filed a complaint regarding the cyber fraud. Police are investigating the transactions and attempting to identify those behind the alleged scam.
The incident highlights how fraudulent social media advertisements can be used to initiate contact with potential victims, followed by fake refund calls designed to obtain access to their money.
