Shirva Man Duped of Rs 21.66 Lakh in Online Loan Scam

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, Jan 25, 2026: A 57-year-old man from Shirva village in Kaup taluk has lost Rs 21.66 lakh after falling prey to an online loan scam operated through the Telegram app.

The complainant, Stanley Pereira, currently working in Kuwait, told police that he came across a loan-related advertisement on Telegram and was later added to a group titled “12-12|4FIN FINANCE LIMITED-5M-100M” by a person who identified himself as Rajesh Changa.

After Pereira conveyed his requirement for a loan of Rs 75 lakh, the accused allegedly assured him of arranging the loan at an interest rate of 0.5 per cent and demanded an initial payment towards tax charges. Trusting the offer, Pereira transferred a total of Rs 21,66,769 to various bank accounts in India between December 23 and December 31, 2025, as instructed.

However, the promised loan was not disbursed and the money transferred was not returned. Based on the complaint, the CEN Police Station has registered a case under Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the Information Technology Act and Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and an investigation is under way.