Senior citizen couple conned, relieved of Rs 7,000 by woman posing as LPG agent

The victim, Raji Muthukrishnan (74), has shared on Facebook how they were cheated by the woman wearing an Indane identity card and spoke so gently that nobody would get an iota of doubt about her credibility. 

The incident happened a week ago when she along with her husband Muthukrishnan (79), a retired professor from Anna University, were alone on the first floor of their house in Abirampuram. 

“The woman who reached around 11.30 am introduced herself as Pavithra from Indane. She spoke convincingly that if we did not let her in, we could roll the cylinder outside and that she would check. She also said a mechanic would come the next day if we want to, but we would have to pay for it. She was wearing a mask and had a hand sanitiser. I called the agency but got an engaged tone, so we had to let her in,” said Raji. 

However, after checking the cylinder and stove, the woman told the couple that they had to get some weight pressure done and convinced them that the next cylinder will not be delivered if they failed to do so. The couple was left with no option but to part with Rs 7,300 she charged. 

However, after the woman left, they grew suspicious and called the agency again, but were told that the agency did not send anybody. 

Realising they have been cheated, the couple, after much efforts, managed to get the phone number of Mylapore police station. 

The two cops who reached the house and made enquiry, however, left after giving the couple Abiramapuram police station’s contact number. The elderly couple called and narrated the incident to Abiramapuram police but could not go to the station to lodge a complaint. When contacted, Abiramapuram police said they would look into it.