Imagine planning a peaceful getaway only to fall victim to a scam while trying to confirm your booking. That’s exactly what happened to a 76-year-old retired Lieutenant General who lost Rs 94,000 in a hotel booking fraud. Keep reading to know how the scam unfolded and how you can avoid falling for such frauds.
It all started when the retired officer was trying to contact customer support for an online hotel booking platform. He had booked accommodation in Mussoorie for March 1 and needed to inquire about the tax payment for his stay. While searching online, he came across a phone number that seemed to belong to the booking portal’s customer care.
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However, the number connected him to a fraudster pretending to be a customer care executive, reports TOI. The scammer claimed that the payment made by the officer had not been received and asked him to transfer the amount again to a provided bank account. Trusting the caller, the victim transferred Rs 94,000 in multiple transactions.
The fraudster then pushed further, asking for the officer’s debit card details. This raised suspicion, and the officer finally realised he was being scammed. He disconnected the call and reported the incident.
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Online scams are becoming more sophisticated, but you can protect yourself by staying alert. Here are a few tips to avoid falling victim to similar frauds: