Ludhiana: The Ludhiana Rural cyber crime police have arrested a man in connection with an online fraud in which a youth from the Jagraon area was cheated of ₹2,39,750 after being lured with fake overseas visa offers, officials said on Thursday.
Modus operandi: female identity used to build trust
The accused has been identified as Aman of Kurali in Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar (SAS Nagar), the cyber crime station reported. Investigating officer ASI Gurmukh Singh said Aman allegedly created fake social media accounts using female names and profiles to approach prospective victims with promises of arranging foreign visas.
The case surfaced after Manjot Singh, 26, of Kular village in Jagraon, filed a complaint alleging that he was duped on the pretext of procuring an Australian visa. According to the FIR, registered on July 21 under Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the complainant first received a Snapchat message on May 13 from an account named "kaurgill8146", which claimed to belong to a woman named Barkat Kaur Gill.
"The accused posed as ‘Barkat Kaur Gill’, said he lived in Australia and promised to arrange a visa in exchange for money," the FIR records state, as reported by the cyber crime police.
Payment trail and deception
Manjot transferred a series of payments between May 15 and May 23 — via IMPS, NEFT and UPI — amounting to ₹2,39,750, the complaint said. Initial demands were described as processing charges of ₹45,000, followed by successive sums claimed to be for IELTS-related fees and further visa processing costs.
Investigators say the accused constructed an elaborate narrative to sustain the deception: he told the complainant that money had already been paid to a travel agent for another person who later backed out, and he even organised a phone call in which a purported grandmother purportedly corroborated the story. When the accused later claimed the woman would arrive in India on May 24 and then switched off the phone, the victim realised he had been cheated and lodged the complaint.
Arrest and ongoing probe
ASI Gurmukh Singh said the subsequent investigation traced digital footprints and financial transactions that led to Aman’s arrest in Mohali. Police added that the inquiry is continuing and they suspect the accused may have duped other persons, including women, using similar tactics.
- Victim: Manjot Singh, 26, Kular village, Jagraon
- Accused: Aman, Kurali, SAS Nagar (arrested)
- Amount cheated: ₹2,39,750 (transferred May 15–23)
- First contact: Snapchat message from account "kaurgill8146" on May 13
- FIR registered: July 21 under Section 318(4), Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita
| Key Date | Event |
|---|---|
| May 13 | First contact via Snapchat account "kaurgill8146" |
| May 15–23 | Victim transferred total ₹2,39,750 through IMPS/NEFT/UPI |
| May 24 | Accused allegedly switched off phone after promising arrival |
| July 21 | FIR registered under Section 318(4) of BNS |
Precautions for residents
Local cyber crime officials reiterated common-sense warnings for Ludhiana residents and those in surrounding districts: verify identities on social platforms, be wary of unsolicited offers for visas or jobs that require advance payments, and confirm details through independent means before transferring money. The police also advised checking credentials of travel agents and immigration consultants and using official channels for visa processing.
Cyber crime teams in Ludhiana continue to monitor online fraud trends that exploit social media impersonation. The arrest underlines how perpetrators use fabricated emotional narratives and staged corroboration to build trust, targeting aspirants seeking opportunities abroad.
Authorities urged anyone with similar experiences or information about the accused to contact the Ludhiana Rural cyber crime police station so that further victims can be identified and assisted in the ongoing investigation.
