A building contractor from Ahmedabad's Pragatinagar area has become the latest victim of a sophisticated cyber fraud, losing a staggering sum of Rs 7 lakh after falling prey to a caller pretending to be a bank representative. The incident, a classic case of KYC (Know Your Customer) fraud, was reported to the cybercrime police on Tuesday.
The Deceptive Call and False Urgency
According to the First Information Report (FIR), the contractor received a phone call from an unknown number in the month of June. The person on the other end confidently introduced himself as an employee of a financial institution. He created a sense of panic by informing the contractor that his KYC details were pending and needed immediate updating.
The fraudster issued a stern warning, claiming that failure to comply would result in the contractor's bank account being frozen and hefty charges being deducted. This tactic of creating false urgency is a common psychological ploy used by scammers to bypass their victim's rational thinking.
How the Scam Unfolded Step by Step
Believing the caller's claims to be genuine, the contractor revealed that he held accounts with two financial institutions. Seizing this information, the scammer then sent a link via a popular messaging platform. The link directed the complainant to an online form that requested extensive personal and financial details.
The contractor, under the impression he was securing his accounts, proceeded to fill in all the requested information. This included sensitive data such as his debit/credit card numbers, card validity dates, and the crucial CVV security number. Upon submission, he unknowingly handed over the keys to his finances to the criminals.
Discovery of Fraud and Police Action
The reality of the scam began to surface a few hours later. The victim started receiving multiple One-Time Password (OTP) messages on his phone, which he initially ignored. The gravity of the situation hit him when he traveled to Bharuch and attempted to make a digital payment.
He was alerted by messages showing that several unauthorized transactions had been conducted from his savings account. Acting swiftly, he contacted his bank's customer care and got the account blocked. He also registered a complaint with the national cyber helpline.
In a troubling aftermath, the complainant's phone began malfunctioning after the incident and was eventually reset, leading to the loss of crucial message records that could have aided the investigation. The cybercrime police have registered a case under relevant sections of the law for cheating and identity theft and have launched a detailed probe.
This case serves as a critical reminder for all bank customers to be extremely vigilant. Financial institutions never call customers to ask for sensitive details like card numbers, PINs, or CVV over the phone or via links. Always verify directly with your bank through official contact channels before sharing any personal information.
