Gangtok Youth Duped in Free Fire 'Account Upgrade' Scam; Cyber Fraud Reported in Ranipool
Gangtok Youth Duped in Free Fire 'Account Upgrade' Scam; Cyber Fraud Reported in Ranipool
TVS Report, 6 Jan : A young resident of Ranipool, Gangtok, has become the latest victim of an online gaming-related financial fraud. The youth was reportedly swindled by scammers who used the popular battle royale game, Free Fire, as a lure to extract money under the guise of an account "upgrade."
According to the official complaint, the fraudulent activity took place on January 2, 2026. The victim received an unsolicited phone call followed by several WhatsApp messages from an unidentified number. The individual on the other end convinced the youth that his Free Fire gaming account required an essential upgrade to continue or enhance his gameplay.
Trusting the caller, the victim initially transferred a small sum of ₹399 via Google Pay. However, once the first payment was made, the fraudster began making repeated demands for more money using various technical excuses and pretexts. By the time the youth realized he was being cheated, he had already transferred a total of ₹6,263.
Following the discovery of the scam, the victim lodged a formal complaint through the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP). An official acknowledgement number has been generated for the case. Authorities have advised the complainant to visit the Pakyong Police Station to provide further details and facilitate a deeper investigation into the matter.
Local police continue to urge gamers and young internet users to be cautious of unknown callers and to never share payment details or transfer money for unverified digital services or game upgrades.
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