scam
In today’s digital world, cybercriminals are coming up with new ways to trick people into giving away their money. One such scam recently targeted a Bengaluru resident, who lost Rs 70,000 after falling for a fake traffic challan message. Keep reading to know how the scam unfolded.
Hari Krishnan, a 42-year-old employee of a private firm, fell victim to this fraud after receiving a WhatsApp message from 8318732950 on January 19. The message claimed that his SUV had violated traffic rules, and he was required to pay a fine. It even included a receipt number, making it look official.
Also read: Bengaluru woman loses Rs 2 lakh after pressing ‘1’ on fake IVR call
The message instructed him to download the Vahan Parivahan app by clicking on a link. When Krishnan clicked the link, his phone alerted him that it was a risky file, reports TOI. However, he proceeded with the download. Soon after, he started receiving multiple OTP messages. Later, he noticed unauthorised transactions worth Rs 70,000 made from his credit card to an e-commerce company.
Meanwhile, his wife also received alerts that someone was trying to access her bank account, as her apps were linked to his phone number. Fortunately, the fraudsters were unable to access her funds.
Krishnan immediately contacted his bank and requested to cancel the transactions. However, the transactions were already made.
Also read: Maharashtra man loses Rs 54.9 lakh in online job scam: Here’s how to avoid such frauds
Cyber frauds are on the rise, but staying alert can help prevent such losses. Always double-check before making online transactions.