TL;DR: Reports on July 28, 2026 said a woman in Bengaluru lost about ₹1.7–1.75 crore (outlets differ) after a Facebook friend calling himself “Sahil Juggal” promised luxury gifts from the UK. A “customs officer” demanded duties, ₹40 lakh was paid by RTGS, and cash was handed over to strangers who matched a ₹10 note serial number. Police are tracing the accused.
What happened
News Karnataka reports that on June 12, a man calling himself Sahil Juggal, who said he was an Indian working in the UK, contacted a Bengaluru woman on Facebook. The Hans India adds that she is a 52-year-old divorced woman from Yeshwanthpur and that the figure is ₹1.75 crore; News Karnataka puts it at ₹1.7 crore. The Hans India page carries a note that it is sponsored content and unverified, so treat the details as police-reported allegations. The case is under investigation.
How it unfolded
- They moved to WhatsApp. He promised designer saris, gold jewellery, diamonds and gemstones and sent photos of a parcel and courier receipts.
- A man calling himself “Ravi Sharma”, a customs officer, said the parcel was in Delhi and could be released only after customs duties and clearance charges.
- She first sent ₹40 lakh by RTGS to bank accounts the fraudsters provided.
- Demands continued. She was asked to hand over cash at various locations, where people collected it after matching the serial number of a ₹10 note shared on WhatsApp.
What police are doing
The case was registered at the North Cyber Crime Police Station under the Information Technology Act and Section 318 (cheating) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Investigators suspect the money moved through hawala channels, and efforts are under way to trace the main accused, believed to operate from south Bengaluru.
Why people fall for it
The gift is never the point. It creates a reason for the victim to keep paying small, urgent “fees” to someone she now trusts. The cash hand-over with a matching ₹10 note is designed to make a stranger look like a trusted courier. Our explainer on dating and romance scam red flags covers the same pattern on any platform.
Red flags
- A Facebook “friend” abroad who promises costly gifts within days of meeting.
- Customs or clearance fees for a parcel you did not order.
- Cash pickups, torn notes or code words to identify a “courier”.
- Growing demands every time you pay.
If something like this has already happened to you or a parent, read our recovery guide and how to file a 1930 complaint. Run our free digital footprint check too, since scammers use leaked phone numbers and emails to pick targets.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did the woman lose?
News Karnataka reports about ₹1.7 crore and The Hans India reports ₹1.75 crore. Both say she paid ₹40 lakh by RTGS first, then more in cash and instalments.
What was the torn ₹10 note?
Fraudsters shared the serial number of a ₹10 note so that people who collected cash could prove they were the right contact.
Was anyone arrested?
The reports say police are still trying to trace the main accused, who is believed to be operating from south Bengaluru.
Is this a romance scam?
It is a friendship-to-gift scam run from a Facebook friendship. The reports do not describe a romantic relationship, but the pattern is the same as romance fraud.
Sources
- News Karnataka: Woman loses ₹1.7 crore in Facebook gift scam in Bengaluru (Jul 28, 2026)
- The Hans India: Woman loses ₹1.75 crore in Facebook ‘gift’ scam promising UK parcel (Jul 28, 2026)