Man loses ₹49,999 to scammers posing as vehicle dealers on Instagram

What appeared to be a bargain on a vehicle on Instagram turned out to be an expensive lesson for a 26-year-old man from Shamshabad who allegedly lost ₹49,999 to scammers posing as sellers and claiming to be connected to the Indian Army.

The victim, Pathlavath Mahesh, a private employee from Madanapally Kotha Thanda in Shamshabad mandal, approached the police after becoming suspicious of a series of payments demanded by alleged vendors.

According to his statement, Mahesh was scrolling through Instagram Reels on June 18 when he noticed an ad offering a vehicle at a low price. After showing interest, he received a call from a person who quoted a final price of ₹85,000 and sought his Aadhaar details and location, claiming that the documentation for the sale would be ready.

The caller then sent a QR code and requested an initial payment. Mahesh transferred ₹1,000 and then another ₹2,000. Soon after, the suspects allegedly claimed to have served in the Indian Army and would arrange for the vehicle to be transported.

To make the transaction look genuine, they allegedly sent a bill demanding ₹7,999 for GPS tracking charges. The complainant paid the amount. The next day, he was asked to transfer another ₹15,500 to facilitate the vehicle’s dispatch.

The fraudsters then allegedly sought another ₹21,500 through another QR code and assured the complainant that the vehicle would be delivered soon. He had transferred a total of ₹49,999 before he realized something was wrong.

The victim subsequently contacted the National Cyber ​​Crime Helpline 1930 and lodged a complaint.

The Shamshabad police have registered a case of cybercrime and have launched an investigation to identify and track down those behind the scam.

Published – 22 Jun 2026 19:37 IST