MUMBAI: A shocking case of cyber fraud has emerged from Mumbai’s Sion area, where a 22-year-old woman was allegedly duped of Rs 15.93 lakh by fraudsters posing as spiritual healers claiming to use' jinns' (supernatural spirits) and tantric powers. The scam, which began on social media, continued systematically for nearly two and a half years.
According to officials, the Mumbai Cyber Cell has registered a case and launched a detailed investigation into the matter. Police said the victim, a resident of Pratiksha Nagar in Sion, first came into contact with the accused in 2023 while browsing Instagram.
She reportedly came across a post titled “Powerful Obsession Healer”, which claimed to offer solutions for issues related to career, relationships, and personal well-being. After clicking the link in the post, she was directed to WhatsApp, where she began communicating with an unidentified individual who introduced himself alternately as “Wahid” and “Sahil”.
Police said the accused initially gained the victim’s trust by assuring her of a bright future. He then persuaded her to undergo a special tantric ritual, claiming it would resolve her problems. Over time, the accused told her that he possessed a jinn capable of fulfilling all her desires, including financial success and personal happiness.
Believing his claims, the woman agreed to proceed with the rituals. The fraud began with a demand of Rs 25, 000. However, the accused continued to extract money from her on various pretexts, including incomplete rituals, the need to remove negative energy, and even threats that the jinn had become angry and required appeasement.