Ahmedabad: A woman’s trust in a social-media friendship allegedly led to her losing Rs 12.6 lakh to a family she met online. The 60-year-old from Jivraj Park alleged that the family pledged her gold for a bank loan but did not return it.According to a complaint registered with Vejalpur police on Wednesday, the woman came into contact with the family around five years ago through Facebook. One woman in the family ran a dress-material business, and the two eventually became friends.In 2022, the woman allegedly sought Rs 1 lakh, claiming she needed the money for her daughter’s college admission. The complainant said she helped her by issuing cheques.
online friendship fraud
The accused woman allegedly approached her several more times for financial assistance, citing GST-related difficulties and a need to revive her business. Trusting her, the complainant said she took loans against her LIC policies and transferred money to the woman’s bank account. She also allegedly paid loan instalments when the borrowers failed to pay.The complainant further alleged that in 2023, her daughter gave Rs 2 lakh to the woman’s son for business purposes.In 2024, the family allegedly persuaded the complainant to hand over gold ornaments weighing 149.3g and valued at Rs 7 lakh. They allegedly told her that the jewellery would be pledged to secure a short-term loan to stabilise the business.The ornaments were allegedly pledged with a bank for a loan of Rs 6.9 lakh, but the jewellery was not returned to the complainant, according to the complaint.The family allegedly received several additional payments through online transfers. The complainant claimed the total value of the money and jewellery she and her daughter handed over came to Rs 12.6 lakh.When she demanded repayment, the family allegedly began avoiding her, changed their residences and phone numbers and blocked her calls. She subsequently approached Vejalpur police and accused the family of cheating.
