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Pune: A project manager employed with a multinational IT firm, at Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park, Hinjawadi, was allegedly duped to the tune of Rs 10.2 lakh while purchasing a quadcopter worth Rs 40,000 from USA. The 42-year-old complainant, who lives in Balewadi, got the shock of his life when he was told that he would receive $1.75 lakh as compensation for being duped by the US-based firm, but instead was doublecrossed and given a box full of fake notes and waste paper.

According to the FIR registered with Chatushrungi police station, in November 2015, the complainant had placed an order through RCIndia.org for a quadcopter which he intended to use for work. It was priced at Rs 40,000 out of which he reportedly transferred Rs 10,000 to the account of one Sameer Leonard with whom he was in touch for the deal.

On November 24, 2015, he received a call from a person, who identified himself as Sanders informing him about the gadget being stuck with the customs department in Bengaluru and that he is required to pay Rs 90,000 more. The complainant was told that he will get this amount with the gadget.

Twenty days later, even after this amount was paid, the gadget did not arrive. “One of my colleagues, who had lived in the USA previously, told me that he knew Jeremy Fischer, a lawyer who handled such cases. On contacting him, Fischer assured me I would be compensated $2 lakh (Rs 1.33 crore) from the Texas County Court,“ the complaint told police.

Then on January 8, 2016, he was informed by Fischer that the court had approved a compensation of $1.75 lakh.

“Fischer informed me that the court has deposited my compensation amount with a company and gave me number of one William Ken with whom I had to liaise for the amount. When I contacted Ken, he told me to pay $6,600 dollars for KYC (know your customer) verification. Ken gave me account numbers of his agents in India and asked me to transfer the amount. I transferred a total of Rs 9.2 lakhs in eight bank accounts in India,“ the complainant recalled.

On June 6, at 3.30 am, one Michael called the complainant saying he was near his house with the compensation amount. He gave him an iron box and zoomed away.

“When I opened the box, it contained four fake notes of 100 dollars and under them were waste papers of same size,“ the FIR states.

The police have registered a case of cheating under the Indian Penal Code and relevant sections of the Information Technology Act. Senior police inspector Dayanand Dhome, incharge of Chatushrungi police station, is further investigating the case.

