Sambalpur Girl Falls Prey to Free iPhone Scam, Loses Over ₹18,000

Sambalpur: A girl from Odisha’s Sambalpur district has filed a complaint with the Cyber Police after she fell prey to a scam promising a free iPhone. The victim, Chinmayee Pradhan, was tricked into making multiple payments totalling over Rs 18,000 through UPI after receiving a call from an unknown number.

The caller reportedly instructed Chinmayee to purchase items worth Rs 5,048 on Flipkart to qualify for the free iPhone. She then received another call demanding Rs 13,990 as GST payment. After making both payments, the caller convinced her to make a further payment to rectify a supposed GST processing issue.

Suspecting fraud, Chinmayee reported the incident to the police. The authorities are currently investigating the case.

This incident highlights the increasing prevalence of cybercrimes despite awareness campaigns. It is crucial to remain cautious of unsolicited calls and messages offering free prizes or deals.