- Woman security guard lost Rs 52,500 in a fake IPL ticket scam.
- Fraudsters sent fake QR codes to gain her trust.
- Police suspect an organised cybercrime racket behind
A woman security guard on duty at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru was allegedly cheated of Rs 52,500 in a fake IPL ticket scam. According to a report in The Hindu, the victim, identified as Sunita Tandava Murthy, lodged a complaint with the Central Division Cybercrime police after receiving fake QR codes instead of valid match passes.
The complainant, an employee of a private security firm, has stated she was on duty at the stadium during an IPL match on March 28, when she approached a bouncer at the venue to enquire about ticket availability. The bouncer allegedly shared a mobile number, suggesting it as a reliable source for match passes.
According to the complaint, the victim made an online transaction of Rs 3,000 in exchange for two tickets during the first purchase, after which the accused released QR codes under her name. To build trust, the accused provided digital passes that appeared legitimate. Convinced it was genuine, the victim proceeded to purchase more tickets, eventually transferring her entire savings into the scamster's account.
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Investigation has revealed Murthy transferred a total of Rs 52,500 in five separate online payments between March 30 and April 4. However, the promised match passes never arrived. When the accused stopped responding to her calls and messages, Murthy realised she had been duped and approached the authorities.
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Bengaluru police confirmed a case had been registered and investigation was underway to track the accused and map the bank account used in the fraudulent transfers. Officials suspect the involvement of a sophisticated online fraud ring that exploits the surge in demand for IPL tickets.
Police have urged the public to stay cautious while purchasing tickets or goods online. Citizens should avoid making advance payments to unknown individuals and always verify the authenticity of sellers before transferring money to prevent falling victim to financial scams, especially during high-demand events.
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