Wed May 21 11:52:59 UTC 2025: Here’s a news article summarizing the provided text:

**Aspiring Cricketer’s Family Duped Out of ₹24 Lakh in IPL Scam**

Belagavi, Karnataka – A young cricketer’s family in Belagavi district has been defrauded of over ₹24 lakh by cybercriminals posing as agents for the Rajasthan Royals IPL team.

Rakesh Yadure (19), an aspiring cricketer from Chinchani village, was contacted via Instagram by a user claiming to be “Sushant_srivastava1” approximately four months after performing in a State-level cricket match in Hyderabad in May 2024. The message praised his skills and offered him a spot on the Rajasthan Royals team, leading Rakesh to believe selectors had seen him play.

The initial request was for ₹2,000 to fill out an application form. However, between that initial request and April 19, 2025, the fraudsters coerced Rakesh’s family into transferring a total of ₹23,53,550 online, promising match fees of ₹4.8 lakh per game. The fraudsters subsequently disappeared without a trace after receiving the money.

Rakesh’s father, a security guard for KSRTC, took out loans to cover the payments. The family has since reported the incident to the district cyber crime police station, and an investigation is underway.

Superintendent of Police Bheemashankar S Guled has issued a public warning, urging individuals to be wary of online scams and fraudulent messages. “No one should fall victim to the network of fraudulent messages that come online,” he stated.

The case highlights the growing problem of cyber fraud targeting vulnerable individuals with false promises of opportunities in the sports industry.

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