Nagpur: A 52-year-old homemaker from Pratap Nagar has allegedly been cheated of ₹4.45 lakh after being lured into investing in a fake dropshipping and e-commerce business with the promise of attractive profits. Pratap Nagar Police have registered a case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act.

According to the FIR, the complainant, Ranjana Sanjay Patil (52), a resident of New Ganesh Colony, behind Durga Mandir, Pratap Nagar, received a call from an unknown person using mobile number 8208480599.

The caller claimed to represent E Boss Marketing and Services, allegedly associated with Har Simran Singh, and persuaded the complainant to invest in dropshipping and e-commerce product advertisements, assuring her that she would receive substantial returns on her investment.

Believing the offer to be genuine, the complainant transferred a total of ₹7 lakh from her State Bank of India and HDFC Bank accounts to the accounts specified by the accused.

To gain her confidence, the fraudster initially returned ₹2.55 lakh in instalments. However, the remaining ₹4.45 lakh was never refunded despite repeated follow-ups.

Realising that she had been duped, the woman approached Pratap Nagar Police and lodged a complaint.

Based on the complaint, police registered a case against the unidentified accused under Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Section 66(D) of the Information Technology Act.

Police are investigating the bank accounts and digital transaction trail to identify the fraudster.

Cyber crime officials have advised the public to verify the authenticity of online investment schemes and companies before transferring money. They also warned against offers promising guaranteed or unusually high returns, as such claims are commonly used by cyber fraudsters to trap unsuspecting investors.