Mangaluru: In a stark reminder of the growing threat of online marketplace frauds, a 54-year-old man from Ullal near Mangaluru allegedly lost ₹5.6 lakh while attempting to purchase a motorcycle advertised on an online platform.

According to a complaint filed at the Ullal police station, the victim and his son came across an online advertisement offering a motorcycle for sale. After contacting the seller, the accused introduced himself as Syed Touseef Pasha and claimed to be associated with a reputed auto consultant based in VV Puram, Bengaluru.

The accused initially demanded ₹5,000 as a vehicle transfer fee and ₹10,000 as commission. After gaining the confidence of the buyer, he allegedly asked for an advance payment of ₹57,000, which was transferred through UPI on February 18.

Over the following days, the accused continued to demand additional payments on various pretexts. Trusting his claims, the complainant and his son transferred money through UPI, NEFT and IMPS to multiple bank accounts and UPI IDs provided by the accused between February 18 and March 4.

By the time they realised something was wrong, the family had transferred a total of ₹5.6 lakh.

The fraud came to light when the accused allegedly continued asking for more money even after receiving substantial payments. When the complainant’s son questioned him about the delivery of the motorcycle and the status of the payments already made, the accused reportedly abused him and issued threats.

Realising they had been deceived, the family approached the police and lodged a complaint. A case has been registered, and an investigation is underway.

The incident serves as a warning to online buyers to exercise caution while purchasing vehicles or other high-value items through online marketplaces. Experts advise buyers to verify the seller’s identity, inspect the vehicle in person whenever possible, avoid making advance payments to unknown individuals, and be wary of repeated demands for additional fees or commissions.

With cyber fraudsters increasingly using fake identities and fabricated business affiliations to gain trust, authorities urge the public to report suspicious transactions immediately and verify all details before transferring money online.