Retired govt official loses Rs 22 lakh after clicking on an ad: Here’s what happened

A retired government official recently fell victim to a scam and lost Rs 22 lakh after clicking on an advertisement on a social media platform. The victim, who had trusted what seemed like a genuine offer, ended up sharing his sensitive banking details with fraudsters posing as employees of a public sector bank. Keep reading to know how the scam unfolded and how you can avoid falling for such frauds.

The scam unfolded when the victim received a call from people pretending to offer him a credit card. Believing the offer to be legitimate, he shared his bank account information, including OTPs and PINs. The scammers then gained access to his bank accounts, transferring money from both his fixed deposit (FD) and overdraft account. In total, Rs 17.2 lakh was taken from the FD, while another Rs 4.8 lakh was drained from his overdraft account. The money was transferred through his savings account to multiple different accounts, reports TOI.

Also read: Elderly man loses Rs 3.75cr in online trading scam: Here’s what happened and how to stay safe

It was only after noticing the missing funds that the victim realised he had been tricked. Upon reviewing his bank accounts, he found that a total of Rs 22 lakh had been siphoned off.

How to avoid falling for such scams

• Don’t trust unknown calls: Never share your bank account details or personal information with anyone who calls unexpectedly, even if they claim to be from a well-known organisation.
• Check ads carefully: Be cautious of ads on social media, especially those offering financial products or services. Verify them through official sources.
• Enable two-factor authentication: Always enable two-factor authentication on your bank accounts.
• Report suspicious activities: Immediately report any suspicious calls, messages or activities to your bank and the authorities.

Also read: Retired teacher loses Rs 56 lakh in digital arrest scam: Here’s what happened