Mangaluru, Feb 17: A man from Mangaluru, who fell prey to online fraud, has lost Rs 18.43 lakh through digital transactions, a complaint filed at the cyber, economics and narcotics crime (CEN) police station here said.

Police sources said as per the complaint, the man got a WhatsApp message from an unknown number providing details of making quick money through digital marketing in December last year. He joined the telegram channel which was sent from the number.

The stranger asked the man to register himself on a website through the channel that was sent to him. Accordingly, the victim registered himself and paid Rs 9,000 on December 18 and got the money back promptly.

Later, the stranger asked the victim to send money at different intervals and the website showed that the money was doubled in its data. The victim who believed the message, sent a total of Rs 18.43 lakh in various transactions.

Later when the man tried to get back the money he invested, the stranger asked him to pay money again. He then refused to send more money and asked for the amount he invested, which did not elicit any response, the complaint said.

The police have registered a case and investigation is on, the sources said.

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Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): A case has been registered and a probe launched into social media posts allegedly threatening a member of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s security team with consequences once the UDF comes to power, officials said on Sunday.

The Thiruvananthapuram City Cyber Police registered the case based on a complaint filed by Chief Minister’s security staff member Sandeep Sasidharan.

The Congress had earlier alleged that Sandeep and another officer, Anil Kumar, brutally assaulted two Youth Congress-KSU activists including using flower pot when they protested against the Chief Minister during the Navakerala Sadas programme in Alappuzha in 2023.

A subsequent probe was conducted against both officers, and the Crime Branch later gave them a clean chit.

Recently, following the conclusion of the state assembly election on April 9, several social media posts allegedly made by Congress, Youth Congress and KSU activists claimed that revenge would be taken once the LDF government is removed and the UDF comes to power.

Police said cases have been registered against Facebook accounts named Arun Rajendran, Tom Kuriakose, Yaser KP, Sony Panamthanam, Sarath Pillai, KSU Kanjiramkulam, Rahul John C and Youth Congress Battle.

According to the FIR, the complainant’s photograph and name were used in several social media posts threatening him with consequences and containing abusive language.

Police said the social media account holders have been identified and will soon be summoned as part of the investigation.

The case has been registered under Sections 296(b) (uttering obscene words causing public annoyance), 351(2) (criminal intimidation), and 3(5) (acts done by several persons) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.