Sonipat Man Loses ₹1 Lakh in Facebook Laptop Booking Scam, Case Registered

A major online fraud case has surfaced in Sonipat district, where a local resident was cheated of more than ₹1 lakh after attempting to book a laptop he saw on Facebook. Acting on the victim’s complaint, the Cyber Crime Police Station has registered a case and launched an investigation.

Tilak Raj, a resident of Rishi Colony, said he came across a laptop advertisement on Facebook on November 7, 2025, and decided to book it. Soon after, an unknown caller posing as the seller contacted him and asked for an advance payment of ₹550, which he transferred immediately.

The following day, the accused called again, demanding ₹3,550 and sending a QR code for payment. Over the next several hours, the fraudster repeatedly pressured the victim to transfer more money, claiming issues such as incorrect transactions and asking him to resend amounts in multiple parts. Under constant manipulation, the victim made several payments—ranging from ₹550 to over ₹25,000—adding up to a total loss of ₹1,01,993.

When he realized he had been duped, Tilak Raj contacted the national cyber helpline 1930 and later filed a formal written complaint along with all transaction details. On November 9, the accused called once more, claiming he would refund the money and asked for an additional ₹5, but the victim refused.

Based on the complaint, police registered a case under Sections 318(4), 336(3), 338, 340, and 61 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The case file has been forwarded to senior officers and the regional magistrate, and the investigation has been assigned to ASI Naveen.

Early findings indicate that the bank accounts and mobile numbers used in the scam were opened using forged documents. Police officials said efforts are underway to trace the accused, recover the defrauded amount, and prevent similar incidents in the future.