Chandigarh Resident Duped in Sophisticated Credit Card Upgrade Scam
In a significant crackdown, the Chandigarh Cyber Crime police have arrested three women from Delhi for allegedly defrauding a resident of Chandigarh of Rs 1,73,463 through a sophisticated credit card upgrade scam. The accused, identified as Pratima Sharma, Roshni, and Juhi Sethi, all residents of Delhi, were apprehended following a detailed investigation.
The case came to light when a resident of Sector 45 in Chandigarh filed a First Information Report (FIR) at the Cyber Crime police station on December 26, 2025. The victim reported receiving WhatsApp messages and phone calls from an unidentified woman posing as an employee of American Express.
Modus Operandi: A Malicious Link on WhatsApp
The fraudster offered to convert the victim's SBI credit card into an American Express card with an enhanced credit limit. To process this 'upgrade,' the scammer convinced the victim to click on a link sent to him. As soon as the victim opened the link, the cyber criminals gained remote access to his mobile phone. Using this access, they swiftly siphoned off Rs 1,73,463 from his SBI credit card account.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (Cyber Crime) A Venkatesh stated that technical analysis, including Call Detail Record (CDR) scrutiny, IP address tracking, and KYC verification, revealed the accused were operating from the Ashok Nagar and Uttam Nagar areas of Delhi. Acting on these leads, a police team conducted a raid in Tilak Nagar, West Delhi, leading to the arrest of all three accused.
Massive Haul of Incriminating Evidence Seized
Upon their arrest, police recovered a vast array of equipment used in the fraudulent activities. The seized items include:
- 28 mobile phones
- 82 SIM cards
- 55 ATM cards
- 2 Aadhaar cards and 2 PAN cards
- 8 internet dongles
- 27 landline phones and wireless transmitters
- Multiple passbooks, cheque books, and notebooks
Several of the seized mobile phones contained extensive customer databases with names, addresses, and mobile numbers. According to Cyber Crime police station SHO Inspector Iram Rizvi, the accused used this data to impersonate bank and credit card officials, making their approach seem legitimate to potential victims. The phones were also linked to multiple bank accounts used to route the defrauded money.
Ongoing Investigation and Public Advisory
During interrogation, the arrested women confessed to their involvement in the cyber fraud and disclosed the involvement of an associate. Further investigation is underway to identify more accomplices, verify bank accounts opened using forged documents, and determine the total number of victims cheated by the gang.
In light of this case, the Chandigarh Cyber Crime police have issued a strong advisory to the public. They urge citizens to:
- Never click on suspicious links received via WhatsApp, SMS, or email.
- Never share OTPs, CVV numbers, or banking details with anyone over the phone or online.
- Always verify the identity of callers claiming to be from banks or financial institutions by contacting the official customer care channels directly.
This arrest highlights the increasing sophistication of cyber frauds targeting individuals through social engineering and phishing techniques, emphasizing the need for constant vigilance in the digital age.
