In a shocking incident in Bengaluru, an Information Technology (IT) expert has fallen prey to a scam that cost him a staggering Rs 90 million (approximately 28 million INR). The scam, which began with a seemingly harmless offer for a free smartphone, quickly spiraled into a devastating financial loss.
The victim, a 60-year-old IT professional, received a phone call from someone claiming to offer a free smartphone worth Rs 1 lakh (approximately INR 100,000) if he purchased a new SIM card. The caller’s offer sounded too good to pass up, so the man decided to buy the SIM card as instructed. Once the purchase was made, he received the promised free smartphone, which seemed like a dream come true.
However, things took a dark turn soon after. The scammer, who had tricked him into buying the SIM card, made another call, this time claiming to be a representative from a bank. The scammer told the victim that the free phone was part of a special promotional offer, and he needed to activate the phone to receive his benefits. Trusting the “bank representative,” the victim proceeded to activate the phone and began using it.
Little did the man know that the phone he had received was pre-loaded with malware and spyware. These malicious programs allowed the scammer to gain access to his bank details, including sensitive information such as one-time passwords (OTPs) and account passwords. This gave the scammer a clear path to siphon off huge sums of money from the victim’s bank accounts.
The victim only realized that he had been scammed when he received an alert from his bank, which informed him of suspicious activity on his account. Upon further investigation, it became clear that he had lost a total of INR 28 million (Rs 90 million) to the scam. Shocked and devastated, he immediately reported the incident to the authorities.
This case highlights the increasing sophistication of cyber scams and serves as a stark reminder of the importance of being vigilant when receiving unexpected offers or calls, especially those that seem too good to be true. The scammer’s method of impersonating both a mobile provider and a bank representative illustrates how fraudsters can manipulate individuals into trusting them and gaining access to their private financial information.
Sadly, this is not the first such scam to occur in Bengaluru. Just recently, another woman, a software engineer in her late twenties, lost Rs 1.2 crore (INR 12 million) in a similar fraud. She received an automated call from an international number, claiming that a package addressed to her contained illegal items like counterfeit passports and narcotics. The call advised her to reach out to a police station for further details. Sadly, this turned out to be another scam designed to trick her into sharing personal information and leading to a significant financial loss.
Both of these cases underscore the rising threat of online and phone-based fraud. Scammers are becoming increasingly clever, using technology to create convincing situations that lure victims into a false sense of security. Whether it’s an unexpected prize, an offer of a free product, or a friendly call from a “bank representative,” these scams often play on emotions like greed, trust, and fear to manipulate victims.
The lessons learned from these incidents are clear: always be skeptical of deals that seem too good to be true, and take immediate action if you suspect you’ve been scammed. With a little caution and awareness, we can all protect ourselves from falling prey to these dangerous online frauds.
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