Hyderabad: A widow from Mehdipatnam was cheated of Rs.11 lakh by suspected African fraudsters who deceived the victim on pretext of dispatching a parcel containing cash and gifts.

According to the police, the woman lives along with her son at Mehdipatnam in the city. Ten days ago, she had received a friend request on Facebook from a man and she accepted. The fraudster presented himself as a Chris and told he was from the United Kingdom and is designed to help the Christian community within the Hyderabad who are affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown.

Believing the conman, the victim shared her contact number with him. A few days ago a woman called the victim over the phone and presented herself as a customs officer from Delhi airport.

“The woman caller told the victim that a parcel has been received and some payment needs to be done for clearance. Later, some other person called and asked for money towards customs duty. The victim and her son together transferred around Rs. 11 Lakh in the bank accounts furnished by the conmen,” said K V M Prasad, ACP Cyber Crime.

When the woman did not get any parcel she contacted the police. Based on a complaint made by the victim the police registered a case and took up the investigation.