In a shocking case of online deception, a Surat-born NRI doctor was swindled out of Rs 1.89 crore by serial conman Guruprasad Naidu. The investigation by Surat cybercrime police uncovered that Naidu had also extorted Rs 53 lakh from nine other women across the nation.
Naidu, who holds degrees in B.Tech and MBA, fell into the grip of addiction to online gambling and pornography, which ultimately led him to engage in fraudulent activities targeting unsuspecting women.
According to law enforcement officials, Naidu operated under the alias Jax Parker on popular dating apps like SUUZ, Tinder, Bumble, and Fetlife. He lured victims into online relationships, often securing nude photographs by showcasing his supposed affluent lifestyle. To enhance his deceit, he used a ‘Fake GPS’ application to mislead victims about his actual location.
Arrested last week in Chennai, Naidu was found to have generated virtual phone numbers through apps like My Telstra, Numero, and My Optus. He used the Proton VPN app to create the illusion of accessing the internet from overseas, further adding to his credibility.
A search of his mobile device revealed 18 different Gmail accounts registered under various aliases.
Naidu’s latest victim, a female doctor from Surat now practicing in the US, was contacted through social media. During a visit to Surat, she faced renewed threats from Naidu, prompting her to report the matter to the cybercrime police station.
Last week, a police team raided a hotel in Chennai and apprehended Naidu, bringing an end to his online scam spree.
