A 32-year-old woman from Nigdi, Pune, fell victim to cybercrooks who cheated her of Rs 95,000 by pretending to help her lodge a complaint with the customer care department of an e-commerce website. The incident took place on April 26 when the woman attempted to purchase a product online.
How the Scam Unfolded
According to a Nigdi police officer, the woman's order did not go through, but the money was debited from her bank account. In an attempt to resolve the issue, she searched for the e-commerce site's customer care number online and called it. The person who answered redirected her to another number via a mobile messaging app, leading to further complications.
The officer explained that when the woman contacted the second number, the fraudster instructed her to change settings on her cellphone and the messaging app. This allowed the accused to gain remote access to her device. Once control was established, the cybercriminals siphoned off Rs 95,000 from her bank account.
Police Investigation
The Nigdi police have registered a case and are investigating the matter. They have advised citizens to be cautious while dealing with customer care numbers found online and to verify the authenticity of such contacts through official websites.
Authorities urge the public to avoid sharing sensitive information or granting remote access to unknown individuals. They also recommend using verified contact details from the official website or app of the e-commerce platform.
