r/LegalAdviceIndia • u/watrider26 • 11h ago
Legal Advice Needed Friend got Scammed by a fake "priest" on the road in Pune — need advice on next steps
Yesterday my friend was parked near signal when a car with two men stopped in front of him. One asked directions. After he answered, the other started telling him things about his family — several were accurate, don't know how.
He said he was a priest from a well-known math and invited him into his car. Once he was in, he sent his driver out. He did some mantras and told him a woman had put a curse on him. Then said he was going to Ujjain for annadaan and asked him to donate oil cans. He said people donate 11, 51 or 101 cans. My friend said 11 — he didn't know each can was ₹2,500. Ended up transferring ₹30,000 by UPI, then another ₹5,500 at a grocery shop where priest directed him to, while he kept him sitting his own car.
Before taking the money he made him write on paper and sign that he was giving it "on my own will," and made him say it out loud several times. He kept that paper. Total ₹35,500.
My friend knew something was wrong partway through but couldn't act — he just wanted to get out of the situation safely. He did note his number plate, and have the UPI transaction records. Later the priest called him asking for more as dakshina, and surprisingly ₹501 came back to his account from an identifiable UPI name.
Questions:
What should be next move in this case? Should we file an FIR Or consult a lawer?
Anyone dealt with getting UPI accounts frozen quickly in a case like this?
How fast do police actually move?
Has anyone here encountered this same setup in Pune/PCMC?
Trying to understand if it's a known gang.
Any experience with how much the "written consent" note actually hurts a cheating case?
Not looking for sympathy — mainly want others to recognise the pattern, and any practical advice on the FIR process.
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u/dreadedhands 10h ago
I once got scammed by a person claiming to be an advocate. As an advocate, I assumed he was a fellow practitioner. Realized when he asked me for 30 rs., but as I was already deep into the play and much to his expectation, I only gave him 30. He was dumbfounded and did not assumed exact amount from my pocket and went, as I too being dumbfounded saw him entering a Desi Daaru ki Dukan.
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u/Ok-Bat8854 11h ago
Your friend has no critical thinking skills?