Woman loses Rs 71,000 in online parrot chase

BENGALURU: A woman wanted a pet parrot so badly that she didn't take some basic precautions while trying to buy one online. She eventually lost Rs 71,500 to a fraudster.
Shrija D, a 32-year-old pet lover from Vijayakumar Layout, Sarjapur Road in south-east Bengaluru, filed a complaint with cyber crime police seeking the arrest of the conman who played on her emotions and made away with her money.
Shrija told police she came in contact with Bobby when she was looking to buy a parrot online. He shared his Facebook account and WhatsApp number with her and she believed he was a genuine seller. After haggling with Bobby over the price between June 21 and June 23, she struck a deal to purchase a parrort. She transferred the money through net banking to different bank accounts he suggested. She neither got the parrot nor could she get through to Bobby, who didn't take her calls and didn't reply to her frantic WhatsApp messages. On realising she had been taken for a ride, she approached cops on June 25.
Cyber Crime Police registered a case of cheating and various sections of the Information Technology Act 2000, against Bobby. They are verifying details of bank accounts to which she had transferred money.
Police have been regularly issuing warnings about online conmen who prey on those who don't take basic precautions like setting up face-to-face meetings before proceeding with business transactions.