MUMBAI: A teenager from Mumbai’s Nalasopara died by suicide hours after he was cheated of Rs 2 lakh in a cyber fraud on Wednesday.
The 18-year-old, playing games on his mother’s phone, could have unwittingly clicked on a fraudulent link that wiped off money from his father’s bank account.
The Class XI student clicked on a fake SMS received on the phone. Within minutes, another text about Rs 2 lakh being debited from his father’s account was received.
The teenager panicked but did not confide in his parents. His mother was unaware of the text message from the bank about the cash withdrawal, police officials said.
Fearing he would be reprimanded by his parents, the teenager allegedly consumed pesticide. When he started frothing at the mouth, his mother took him to a nearby hospital where he died during treatment.
As no suicide note was found, police said they are investigating the possibility of a cyber fraud. Police have taken custody of the cellphone for examination.
The hospital where the teenager was admitted reported the matter to Achole police station where an accidental death case was registered. The case has now been transferred to Pelhar police station which has jurisdiction over the area where the teenager lived with his parents and younger brother.