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BENGALURU: A research scholar from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) was duped of Rs 3.7 lakh by cybecriminals, who lured him with a job offer in Canada.

Vijay M told Bagalagunte police that he had been browsing the internet for research opportunities in Canada and was planning to relocate when one of the suspects approached him through an email a month ago. The man who identified himself as David, told Vijay to meet one Williams, an official at the Canada High Commission in Delhi, for visa. Initially, Vijay dismissed the mail as spam. But on November 11, he received a call from David, who offered him a job in a research firm in Canada.

“David asked me to meet Williams at the Canada High Commission in Delhi. Subsequently, Williams emailed me several applications and asked me to fill them. He later asked me to pay Rs 3.7 lakh as visa fee and I transferred the money,” he said.

Following the first transaction, Williams gave Vijay details of another bank account and asked him to transfer Rs 7 lakh there. This made Vijay suspicious.

Police have registered a case of cheating against David, Williams and their associates Leela and Thingareela.

While Rs 3.7 lakh was transferred to Leela’s account, Rs 7 lakh was to be transferred to Thingareela’s account.

“We traced Leela to Whitefield and a police team rushed there to nab her. But she had by then vacated the house. We suspect the involvement of a gang of Nigerians in the case,” an investigating officer said.

