Panaji: A 47-year-old woman from Kundaim, originally from Tamil Nadu, lost Rs 2.4 lakh after cyber fraudsters lured her through a fake Facebook advertisement promising housing assistance under the “CM Vijay Talpatate Yojana.”The woman, who lives in Goa with her daughter, came across the advertisement claiming that poor people from Tamil Nadu could receive Rs 20 lakh to build houses.Believing the advertisement, the woman clicked on the post and proceeded to the contact details provided in it. After the Facebook link was clicked by the victim, PI Yogesh Sawant said an unknown person called her.PI Yogesh Sawant said the woman, who works as a domestic help, was told by the caller that she was eligible for the scheme and would receive the amount after paying processing fees and other charges. The woman made several payments as told.PSI Nitesh Kankonkar said the fraudsters later claimed the amount would be transferred to her bank account in dollars. They told her she had to pay conversion charges, processing fees and taxes.One fraudster also impersonated a bank manager and told her that a large sum had been deposited in her account. He warned that if she failed to pay the charges, the bank would impose interest on the amount.After transferring the money, the woman realised the scheme was fake and reported the matter through the cybercrime portal.A zero FIR was registered at the Goa police cybercrime cell and later transferred to Mardol police station for investigation.Police said cybercriminals are increasingly using social media advertisements to impersonate government schemes and trick people into transferring money.
