Fraudsters Cheat Couple Of Rs. 84,000 Promising Rs. 25 Lakh Aid
The couple said they had already spent nearly Rs. 15 lakh on their son’s treatment.
Bhadradri Kothagudem: A couple from Eluru district, Andhra Pradesh, who are struggling to arrange treatment for their 12-year-old son suffering from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), were allegedly cheated of Rs. 84,000 by unidentified persons.
Rokkam Rajesh and his wife Prashanti, natives of Ramannagudem in Eluru district, moved to Aswaraopet in Bhadradri Kothagudem district six years ago and have been working as daily wage labourers. Their 12-year-old son, Rithvik Joyal, has been suffering from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy for the past five years.
The couple said they had already spent nearly Rs. 15 lakh on their son’s treatment. According to them, doctors informed them that an injection available abroad could help treat the condition, but the estimated cost of the treatment was around Rs. 26 crore.
Seeking financial assistance, the couple posted a video on social media appealing to donors for help. After watching the video, some unidentified persons contacted them and claimed that they had unaccounted money and would help the family with Rs. 25 lakh.
However, they allegedly told the couple that Rs. 84,000 had to be paid first to facilitate the transfer of the money. Believing their claims, Prashanti sold her earrings and arranged Rs. 40,000, while she borrowed another Rs. 50,000 from a person.
The couple then transferred the money as instructed. However, the unidentified persons later switched off their phone and became unreachable.
Realising that they had been cheated, the couple approached the police and lodged a complaint. Police have registered a case and are investigating the incident.