Mumbai – A retired interior designer from Mumbai, D. Pimpre, a sexagenarian, lost a staggering ₹5 lakh after falling victim to a sophisticated cyber fraud while attempting to activate internet banking facilities. The incident, reported to the Bangur Nagar police station on Thursday, highlights the increasing threat of online scams targeting unsuspecting individuals.
According to the First Information Report (FIR), Pimpre sought to use his bank’s internet banking service but had forgotten his user ID and password. He resorted to using the official banking app, which, unfortunately, directed him to an external link displaying two customer care numbers.
Upon contacting one of these numbers, Pimpre was allegedly connected with a customer care executive. This individual then sent him a link via WhatsApp. The WhatsApp number used by the fraudster cleverly mimicked the bank’s official presence by featuring the bank’s logo as its display picture.
The scam escalated when Pimpre received a video call from a person claiming to be from the bank’s customer service department. The caller instructed Pimpre to click on the previously sent link and fill in details pertaining to his two bank accounts. Pimpre was then assured that his new user ID and password would be sent to his WhatsApp number shortly.
It was only after his daughter, suspecting foul play, warned him about the possibility of a cyber fraudster that Pimpre visited his bank to verify the situation. To his dismay, he discovered that a sum of ₹5 lakh had been siphoned off from his accounts.
The Bangur Nagar police have registered an FIR and are investigating the matter. This incident serves as a stark reminder for the public to exercise extreme caution when dealing with online banking queries and to verify the authenticity of all communications, especially those involving sensitive financial information. Always prioritize direct contact with official bank channels over unverified links or phone numbers found online.
