Maharashtra: Jalgaon Man Loses ₹34.63 Lakh In Mobile Tower Scam; Duped By Fake Telecom Company Offer

A 55-year-old man from Jalgaon fell prey to scammers and lost Rs 34.63 lakh after he was promised good returns in exchange for allowing a mobile tower to be set up on his property.

According to the Jalgaon police, the complainant received a call from an unknown woman in July last year, claiming to be a project manager for a telecom company. She offered him Rs20,000 per month if he allowed a mobile tower on his property. Finding the offer attractive, the complainant agreed and was asked to share property documents and identity proof. Soon after, the scammer sent a fake approval letter from the department of telecommunications via WhatsApp.

The scammer then persuaded the complainant to transfer Rs34.63 lakh over 53 online transactions between July 8 and February 18 for various fees, including DoT registration, processing fees, Central Pollution Control Board certificate fees, and other government charges. The scammer continued to demand more money, prompting the complainant to realise he had been deceived. He filed an online complaint on the cybercrime portal earlier this month, leading to a formal case for cheating.