Belagavi Tilakwadi police have busted a sophisticated "Honey Trap" racket involving a 33-year-old woman who allegedly set up a network targeting high-net-worth people through social media. After a thorough investigation on one of the complaints brought by one of the victims, the accused was arrested: Deepa Avatagi, based in Mahalingpur, a professional fashion designer from the Bagalkote district, who was recently arrested.
The Modus Operandi
Deepa utilized her social media use on Facebook and Instagram to find wealthy men, the police said. She went along the route of getting started by having a conversation, establishing a rapport and swapping numbers. Once she had enough trust, she would bring these men to various lodges or hotels under the guise of a private meeting. Once the victim reached the designated location, the trap would spring shut.
Deepa would closely interact with the men to loosen their guard, police officials said. She would then say they should take a bath first. While the victims passed their time in the bathroom, Deepa would snatch the opportunity to gather their valuables cash, gold jewelry, fancy gadgets, even car keys and then escape with her victims in their own vehicles. High-Value Seizures. After the arrest, a raid and impressive haul of stolen property valued at around ₹32.86 lakh were recovered by the Tilakwadi police.
The seized items include:
- 2 Luxury Vehicles: Toyota Fortuner and Maruti Suzuki S-Cross.
- Electronics: 11 high-end mobile phones, one tablet and a network dongle.
- Cash and Keys: ₹14,000 in liquid cash and three sets of spare vehicle keys.
The Accomplice on the Run
The investigation has found that Deepa was not working alone. She was possibly helped by a close associate, Shivananda Mathapati, a native of Hukkeri town in the Belagavi district. Shivananda was instrumental in the racket, helping identify potential high-net-worth targets and supplying Deepa with the background information required to conduct the scams. Deepa remains in judicial custody, but Shivananda eluded the initial police swoop and has been running away.
Special teams are presently being put in place by Belagavi police for tracking down and making sure that he is caught up. Police Advisory. The Tilakwadi police department has cautioned its citizens to be very careful when they interact with strangers on social media. “Fraudsters’ digital intimacy can be weaponized, a reminder of that fact, in this case,” a senior officer added. They have asked anyone else who may have been the target of this duo to come forward and report this, assuring the pair of individuals confidentiality.
