65-YEAR-OLD MAN ENROLLS ON DATING SITE, LOSES RS 73.5 LAKH!

Three persons including a woman and a transgender were arrested by Kharghar police for running a fake call centre and cheating a 65-year-old man of Rs 73.5 lakh in the pretext of offering him membership of a dating site.

The accused were identified as Sneha alias Mahi Das (25), a resident of Sodhpur, Prabir Saha (35) from Mandalpara and Arnab Roy (26) from Durgapur.

Reportedly, Sneha contacted the victim in September 2018 and offered him membership of Locanto Dating Services claiming that they provide girls for dates at members' preferred location. She made him pay registration and other fees. As he did not facilitate dating, he wanted to cancel the membership and demanded exorbitant cancellation charges.

The accused then threatened to register a police complaint against him for demanding girls, sent him legal notices and extorted money.

“The accused demanded money to prevent legal trouble and made him transfer Rs 73.5 lakh to several accounts. He coughed up the sum as he feared social stigma. Eventually, he approached Kharghar police and an FIR was registered," Senio Inspector Pradip Tidar told TOI.