Mysuru:  An elderly woman being conned of her gold ornaments by another woman has come to light lately from Devaraja Police limits in city.

55-year-old Puttamma, a resident of Kumbarakoppal is the elderly woman, who was cheated by another woman.

The incident: On June 26, Puttamma, after visiting an Eye Hospital for a check-up, was proceeding near Gandhi Square, when she was confronted by an unidentified woman who looked worried.

The unidentified woman told Puttamma that her son was admitted in K.R. Hospital and was in need of money for the treatment. She told the elderly woman that she wanted to sell her gold ornaments and showed her gold ornaments she had with her. The woman then took the elderly lady to a cross road and told her to buy the jewels.

Meanwhile, a man who approached them told Puttamma that he was ready to buy the jewels but the woman was not ready to give it to him. He then took one of the jewels and after examining them told Puttamma that the jewels were genuine and were worth about Rs. 5 lakh. He then told the woman that he would go and bring money besides asking her to wait at the spot till he returns.

After the man left from the spot, the woman told Puttamma that she did not want to give the jewels to the man and insisted Puttamma to buy it. When the elderly woman told the woman that she did not have such a huge amount to purchase the jewels from her to which the woman told the elderly lady to give her the jewels she was wearing and Rs. 5,000 cash.

Puttamma, who believed the woman, gave her the jewels weighing about 38 grams she was wearing to the unidentified woman and received the jewels from her. But the unidentified woman  insisted Puttamma to pay her Rs. 5,000 cash as the jewels she had given weighed more than what she (Puttamma) had given her.

Puttamma then called her sister over the phone and informed her that a woman was selling her gold ornaments for lesser price and told her to bring Rs. 5,000 cash. But her sister told her not to venture into such deals and told Puttamma that she was coming to the spot and disconnected the call.

The woman, who heard that Puttamma’s sister was coming to the spot, told her not to worry if she did not have the cash and told Puttamma to keep the jewels safe and left from the spot.

Soon, Puttamma’s sister who reached the spot, examined the jewels the woman had given to her and took them to a jeweller who tested them and told them that all the jewels were fake. Puttamma’s sister immediately tried to search the woman in the surroundings but in vain.

As Puttamma was in a state of shock, she lodged a complaint after a few days. Devaraja Police, who have registered a case in this regard, have expressed hope of arresting the culprits at the earliest.

The Police said that miscreants were now targeting elderly women as they were easy targets. The miscreants would make the women believe them and decamp with their jewels and such incidents have taken place in K.R. Hospital premises and other places.

The Police have cautioned the public especially senior citizens not to fall prey to such miscreants besides asking them not to speak or entertain strangers.