Udupi Woman Defrauded of Rs 1.5 Lakh in Elaborate LPG Crisis Scam
In a distressing incident highlighting the vulnerabilities during the ongoing LPG crisis, a woman from Udupi has been defrauded of approximately Rs 1.5 lakh by online scammers. The fraudsters cleverly posed as representatives from Mahanagar Gas Ltd Mumbai, exploiting the current gas supply issues to execute their scheme.
How the Scam Unfolded
According to police reports, the complainant received a call on March 11 from an individual identifying himself as Devesh Joshi. He claimed to be a representative from Mahanagar Gas Ltd Mumbai and informed the woman that her recent online payment for gas had not been properly updated in their system.
To resolve this purported issue, Devesh Joshi sent a link via WhatsApp for what he described as the Mahanagar Gas APK app. Trusting the caller, the complainant downloaded the application onto her mobile device.
Technical Glitch Leads to Further Exploitation
Subsequently, the scammer called back, citing a technical problem with the app. During this conversation, he managed to obtain the bank account number belonging to the complainant's husband under the guise of needing it for verification purposes.
Shortly after, the victim began receiving alarming messages on her mobile phone. These notifications indicated that substantial sums of money had been withdrawn from her accounts without authorization.
Financial Losses Incurred
The fraudulent transactions resulted in significant financial losses for the family. Specifically, amounts of Rs 46,636 and Rs 29,381 were deducted from the complainant's bank account at a branch located in Mumbai. Additionally, a further Rs 69,005 was taken from her husband's account at a Santhekatte branch.
In total, the scammers successfully siphoned off nearly Rs 1.5 lakh from the unsuspecting couple, capitalizing on the heightened anxiety surrounding LPG availability.
Legal Action Initiated
Following the incident, a formal case has been registered at the Udupi Town Police Station. The complaint has been filed under Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 66(D) of the Information Technology Act, which pertain to cheating and identity theft using communication devices.
Authorities are actively investigating the matter to trace the perpetrators and recover the stolen funds. This case serves as a stark reminder for citizens to exercise extreme caution when receiving unsolicited calls or messages, especially during times of crisis when scammers often intensify their activities.
