Can you trust online astrologers? Bengaluru woman scammed 6 lakh by Instagram fake pandit over THIS

A 24-year-old woman from Bengaluru fell victim to a sophisticated scam that left her ₹5.9 lakh poorer. The fraudster, who posed as an astrologer, convinced the woman that he could help her with "obstacles" in her future love marriage by performing a series of rituals.

Fake astrologer promises love marriage help

The woman, who lives in Electronics City and works at a private firm, first encountered the scammer on Instagram in January. The man, who introduced himself as Vijay Kumar, claimed he was an expert astrologer and offered to help her resolve supposed astrological issues affecting her love marriage. After gathering her personal details, including her name and birth date, Kumar allegedly created a birth chart and predicted a love marriage for her.

Series of rituals and growing demands

To carry out the necessary rituals, Kumar charged the woman ₹1,820 for an initial puja. However, the scam quickly escalated when he fabricated further stories about her future marital troubles. Over time, he convinced her to pay additional amounts, ultimately accumulating nearly ₹6 lakh. As his demands grew, the woman began to suspect foul play and refused to send more money, requesting a refund for the sums already paid.

Threat of suicide and legal action

In a shocking twist, Kumar returned only ₹13,000 and threatened to take his life, claiming he would blame her in a suicide note. Shortly afterward, another man, Prashant, posing as an advocate, contacted her, claiming Kumar was on the brink of suicide because of her refusal to pay further. Concerned for her safety and well-being, the woman reported the matter to the police.

A senior officer noted that the scam was likely orchestrated by cybercriminals, with neither the astrologer nor the advocate being legitimate. The Electronics City police have filed a case under the Information Technology Act and Section 318 of the Indian Penal Code (cheating).