Woman loses Rs 8.8L to fake astrologers on social media

Belagavi: A young woman from Belagavi district was allegedly cheated of Rs 8.8 lakh by fraudsters posing as astrologers on Instagram and promising to resolve her personal problems and help her find a suitable groom.According to a complaint filed with Belagavi District Cyber Crime police, the woman found an Instagram account named ‘Pandit M.N. Rao’ on July 3. The profile claimed to offer astrological guidance and asked people facing personal difficulties to contact a listed mobile number.Seeking advice about her marriage prospects, she contacted the number. The alleged astrologer then communicated with her through WhatsApp, shared a list of purported astrological issues and sought her photograph for a detailed horoscope analysis.The fraudsters allegedly claimed they could remove obstacles affecting her life, perform remedial rituals and help her find a suitable partner. They contacted her from two other mobile numbers and repeatedly persuaded her to pay for astrological remedies and services.Police said the accused gradually gained her trust by promising positive changes in her personal life and marriage prospects. She subsequently transferred Rs 8,86,401 from her Bank of Baroda account through PhonePe, Google Pay and RTGS transactions in multiple stages.After the promised results failed to materialise, the woman realised she had been cheated and approached Cyber Crime Police.Police registered a case and are investigating to trace the accused and recover the money. They urged people to remain wary of unsolicited social media offers seeking payment for astrology-related services or personal solutions.Stay updated with the latest Hubballi news. Download the TOI App.