Mumbai: Fraudster creates doctor's fake Instagram account, demands money

Screengrab of the message posted by Dr. Dere on his social media account

The cyber fraudsters continue to lure people from the city into a trap by impersonation. Recently, a fraudsters created a fake Instagram account of BKC jumbo covid care centre's dean doctor Rajesh Dere and demanded money from his social media friends.

The fraud came to light on Friday when Dere started receiving calls from people who were checking whether the doctor was really in need money.

"One of my former junior colleague who is now in Unite States of America messaged me on WhatsApp and asked me whether I need money. I called her and asked why would I need money? it was then I realised that someone has made my duplicate account on Instagram and demanding money posing as me," Dere said.

Also Read: Chain snatchers strike again in Navi Mumbai, target woman on morning walk

The fraudster was messaged Dere's contacts on Instagram and demanded Rs. 14,500 urgently, assuring them that he would return it by next day. The fraudster was also sharing a phone number to them so that money could transfer the money to his digital wallet.

As soon as the fraud came to light, Dere contacted his friends asking them to report the said account so the the Instagram that would soon block it and also posted an alert on his Instagram as well as Facebook about the fraud.

"I also reported the matter to the Mumbai Police for further action," Dere said.

Last year, a fraudster had created a fake profile of Dere on Facebook and made similar demands.

In a similar manner, recently, cyber fraudsters had tried to demand money from people by posing as former minister and Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray as well as Mumbai Police Commissioner Vivek Phansalkar.