The need of the hour during this pandemic and COVID-19 is a plasma donor, someone who is cured from the virus and who can help in saving someone who is yet to get cured.

Claiming himself to be a plasma donor, a man has duped several desperate families with the promise of helping them. Sandeep Reddy, the name by which the person goes and approaches people on social media by asking for travel costs. Once the amount is transferred, he apparently disappears.

One of the victims, who works for Amazon spoke about her experience to Times of India said, “I had put out a request for plasma donors on social media for my grandmother who was ailing. Sandeep Reddy contacted me and volunteered to donate. He has asked for travel charges, which is Rs 2,500 and we agreed to. I even paid.”

She further said that money was not enough for Reddy and again called and said the amount we sent to him was debited because he had negative balance. “He asked for Rs 2,500 more and I sent again. But he never showed up.”

The Jillelaguda resident said she has later had a conversation with the guy and he said it was shocking. “When I told him that he was making brisk ‘business’ by duping poor people, he said that he is a hacker,” she added.