Email fraud: BMW ‘winner’ in Ahmedabad loses Rs1 lakh

Dinesh Patel, a 35-year-old Amdavadi who works in the auto parts manufacturing sector, recently fell victim to email fraud. This auto enthusiast received an email saying that he was chosen from among 200 people for the award of a BMW in England. Patel did come back to earth but not before he had lost over one lakh rupees.

According to the Satellite police, Patel received the email at his Yahoo mail ID a couple of months back. The mail, apparently from BMW, said Patel had been chosen winner of a BMW car in UK.

"Patel was so convinced that he replied immediately," said a source at the police station. "In no time, he got another mail. A few more mails later, Patel agreed to pay Rs41,000. He was also asked to send his photograph and proof of residence for the winner's kit. The excited Patel sent them immediately and began waiting for the car."

As is often the case in such scams, a couple of days later Patel again received a mail saying that he had to send Rs69,000 for an Anti-Terrorist Clearance Certificate from London. Patel, without giving any second thought, sent the money, said the source. He reportedly deposited the money in an IDBI account.

"Then he received a phone call For another Rs60,000 for customs clearance. It was then that Patel realised that he had been cheated.”