Cyber criminals in Yamunanagar, Haryana have devised a novel and deceptive method to cheat innocent citizens. Operating through a fraudulent Facebook page impersonating Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay Thalapathy, fraudsters targeted a woman residing in Amadalpur village. The accused promised to help her build a house and subsequently extracted 7 lakh 72 thousand rupees through various bank accounts under the guise of covering registry and other miscellaneous expenses. Upon realizing she had been duped, the victim approached the local police station and lodged a formal complaint, prompting authorities to register a case and initiate a thorough investigation.
The Web of Deceit Through Social Media and WhatsApp
The incident unfolded in Amadalpur village located within Yamunanagar district. The victim, Momina, spotted a page on Facebook titled CM Vijay Thalapathy Foundation. The page prominently claimed that the organization was directly affiliated with the Chief Minister and extended financial assistance to needy individuals. A mobile number was provided on the page for communication, prompting Momina to reach out. Soon after, messages began arriving on her WhatsApp account, paving the way for detailed conversations.
Extortion of Funds Under the Guise of House Construction
The individual communicating with the victim posed as Chief Minister Vijay Thalapathy and assured her of complete assistance in constructing her house. The fraudster explained that while a portion of the funding would come from the foundation, the woman was required to deposit a certain amount herself. Citing expenses related to property registry and other formalities, the accused managed to siphon off a total of 7 lakh 72 thousand rupees into various bank accounts between August 12 and August 22. Once the money was transferred, the perpetrators ceased all communication, leaving the woman and her husband to realize they had fallen victim to a calculated scam.
Police Investigation and Public Advisory
Following the formal complaint, Cyber Police Station In-charge Inspector Ravinder Kumar stated that investigations are actively underway based on the submitted details. The police have issued a strong advisory urging citizens not to trust unverified messages and links appearing on social media in the name of political leaders or institutions. Authorities emphasized that if anyone demands money upfront in exchange for financial assistance, the authenticity of such claims must be rigorously verified before making any payments.
