04 August,2021 07:57 AM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah Khan
This picture has been used for representational purpose
A Malad resident was cheated by an old goods website customer to the tune of Rs 85,500 where the customer, instead of paying for a sofa set, made the complainant pay the amount.
According to the Malad police, the complainant, identified as Saideep Tulsidharan, 31, is a resident of Link Road in Malad West. He had posted an advertisement on the website to sell his sofa set on June 5. On June 7, Tulsidharan got a call from someone who identified himself as Pradeep Barela and said he was a resident of Mira Road. Barela agreed to purchase the sofa set for Rs 7,500.
Officers said Barela told Tulsidharan he would be sending the money with the person coming to pick up the sofa set. A day later, when the sofa set was picked up, Tulsidharan was told that Barela would be sending the money through a card swipe machine, for which he asked Tulsidharan to transfer Rs 1 to make sure that the transaction was secure.
He told Tulsidharan that he would return Rs 2 to Tulsidharan after he sends Rs 1. Tulsidharan did what was asked and got back Rs 2. "The accused then asked Tulsidharan to transfer Rs 7,500, which was the cost of the sofa and take back Rs 15,000. Tulsidharan transferred the amount through PayTM," said a police officer from Malad police.
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When Tulsidharan did not receive Rs 15,000, he asked Barela and was told that he had not got the amount as there was some problem with the transaction.
Barela then told Tulsidharan to transfer Rs 15,000 and take back Rs 30,000. This, too, Barela claimed was a faulty transaction. Tulsidharan again transferred Rs 33,000 as advised.
When he ran out of money, Barela said he would send Tulsidharan the entire amount through NEFT. When Tulsidharan did not receive the money and Barela stopped answering his phone, he went to Mira Road to verify Barela's address.
"Tulsidharan found a retail shop instead of Barela's house at the address," added the officer.
On realising he had been cheated, Tulsidharan approached the Malad police on Monday. "We are tracing Barela," said the officer.
