Mangaluru: Man loses Rs 13.38 lakh in Facebook friendship–customs fee scam

Mangaluru: Man loses Rs 13.38 lakh in Facebook friendship–customs fee scam

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Nov 26, 2025: A case has been registered at Kadri police station after a man was cheated of Rs 13.38 lakh by fraudsters claiming that customs fees had to be paid at the airport.

The complainant had befriended a woman named Lillian Mary George from London on Facebook in February and continued chatting with her. In November, she told him she would come to India with money. On November 15, a woman named Sonali Gupta called and said Lillian had arrived at Mumbai airport with traveller’s cheques worth 25,000 pounds and 1 kg of gold, adding that the value in Indian rupees amounted to nearly Rs 30 lakh.

The call was then handed to Lillian, who assured the complainant that the money would be given during their ‘meeting. The caller later demanded payments citing exchange registration, discount charges, customs declaration issues and money-laundering penalties. She also provided different bank account numbers for the transfers.

Between November 15 and 18, the complainant transferred a total of Rs 13,38,900 in multiple transactions. When he asked for the money to be returned, Lillian promised repayment in two days but did not respond thereafter. Realising he had been cheated, the complainant filed a case with Kadri police.