A 64-year-old man from Kolkata's Salt Lake area has been defrauded of more than Rs 2.4 lakh in a sophisticated online payment scam that began with a deceptive WhatsApp message about his gas connection.
The Deceptive Message That Started It All
On January 6, the victim, Shantanu Mitra, a resident of Block A in Salt Lake, received a WhatsApp message from an unknown mobile number. The message falsely claimed that his domestic gas supply would be disconnected due to non-payment of bills. It included a link and referenced a customer ID number, making it appear legitimate.
Believing the communication to be genuine from his gas provider, Mitra clicked on the provided link. The webpage that opened displayed an outstanding amount of just Rs 12. He proceeded to make this payment using his online banking credentials.
Unauthorized Withdrawals Follow Payment
Almost immediately after the transaction was completed, Mitra's nightmare began. He started receiving a series of alerts on his phone indicating unauthorized financial activity.
Upon checking his accounts, he discovered that a staggering Rs 2 lakh had been siphoned off from his credit card. Furthermore, an additional Rs 37,100 was withdrawn from his savings bank account without his knowledge or consent. The total loss amounted to over Rs 2.4 lakh.
Police Action and Ongoing Investigation
Shantanu Mitra promptly filed a formal complaint with the police. Based on his complaint, an FIR (First Information Report) has been registered at the Bidhannagar North Police Station. The case is now under active investigation as authorities work to track down the cyber criminals behind this phishing attack.
This incident highlights a common modus operandi used by fraudsters. They send urgent, official-looking messages about utility bills, bank accounts, or courier deliveries containing malicious links. Clicking these links and entering payment details can give scammers access to victims' financial accounts.
Cybercrime experts advise the public to always verify such messages directly by contacting the company through official customer care numbers found on their legitimate websites or bills. They strongly caution against clicking on links or sharing OTPs (One-Time Passwords) received in unsolicited messages.
