IPL ticket scam in Bengaluru: Techie duped of ₹1.46 lakh via Instagram fraud
Bengaluru, : The craze for IPL 2026 tickets has gripped the city, but it has also opened doors for online fraudsters. In a shocking incident, a Bengaluru-based techie lost ₹1.46 lakh after falling prey to a fake ticket scam, raising serious concerns among cricket fans.
According to police, the victim, a 25-year-old resident of B. Narayanapura, filed a complaint at Mahadevapura police station stating that he was cheated by a person he met on Instagram. The accused posed as an official ticket seller and convinced the victim to purchase tickets for an IPL match at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
The fraudster introduced himself as Sumit Biswal, claiming to be a senior supervisor at the stadium ticket counter. He initially offered two tickets at ₹3,700 and further lured the victim with promises of food coupons and premium facilities.
However, after gaining the victim’s trust, the accused began demanding additional payments under various pretexts, including security deposits, special ID cards, and food packages. He even sent a fake email confirmation and asked the victim to arrive at Gate No. 10 on match day.
Believing the claims, the victim transferred money through UPI from both his and his mother’s bank accounts. In total, he paid ₹1.46 lakh. However, the accused neither delivered the tickets nor refunded the money.
Realizing he had been cheated, the victim approached the police. A case has been registered, and investigations are underway to trace the accused.
Police have urged citizens to avoid purchasing tickets from unofficial sources and to rely only on authorized platforms. With IPL excitement at its peak, authorities warn that such scams are likely to increase, and public vigilance is crucial.
