Facebook Scam: A retired teacher from Kanpur was trapped by thugs in the name of Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk on Facebook. They cheated about Rs 1.57 crore by luring them with job and school project. Later, in the name of getting the money back, more money was extorted from them.
Social Media Scam: If you have received a friend request from a big VIP on your Facebook, then just wait. Hearing what happened to a retired teacher in Kanpur, the ground will slip from under your feet. The swindlers duped a female teacher by impersonating the world’s richest man Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg so much so that she looted Rs 1.57 crore. By the time the matter was understood, it was too late. Let us know what is the whole matter and where you should be careful…
The game of cheating started from friendship
This whole game starts in January 2025. The victim woman, resident of Kanpur, received a request on Facebook. The person in front introduced himself as Mark Zuckerberg, the owner of Facebook. A few days later, another person joined, who described himself as close to Elon Musk. The thugs played an emotional trick to trap Madam. He said, ‘We want to open big schools in Kanpur and we want an experienced teacher like you to work with us.’ Madam felt that maybe her luck had changed and from here she started sending money. Sometimes in the name of investment and sometimes in the name of processing fees, lakhs of rupees kept going into the accounts of swindlers.
When in doubt, looted again in the name of help
When the woman realized that something was wrong, she stopped talking. But the thugs played another trick. This time a new character came, who introduced himself as a member of an organization that recovers ‘stranded money’. He told the woman, ‘Your money is coming through courier, just pay a little custom charge and the cost of repairing the vehicles.’ In panic the woman again transferred the huge amount.
Then the ‘fake lawyer’ wiped his hands
The limit reached when the woman tried to complain online. There he met a person named Ashok Suresh, who introduced himself as a lawyer. He deceived you that your money has been invested in a big company and you will get Rs 2.33 crore. But instead he again collected lakhs of rupees in the name of tax and stamp duty.
The whole game continued for 1 year
This fraud continued for about a year. When the process of repeatedly asking for money did not end and not even a single rupee was returned till February 2026, then the woman realized that a huge fraud had happened to her. After this he complained to the police. Now the entire matter is under investigation.
You too could be the next victim
Nowadays such scams are increasing rapidly. Messaging by posing as a fake celebrity, luring people with job or investment and cheating again in the name of getting the money back, these are all the new ways by which people are getting trapped.
How to avoid cyber scam?
- Do not immediately trust messages from any big name (Zuckerberg, Musk).
- Verify job or investment offers received on Facebook or WhatsApp.
- Never send processing fees or money in advance.
- Also beware of ‘money back’ scammers.
- If there is any doubt, immediately complain on the cyber helpline.