In a distressing incident highlighting the vulnerability of senior citizens to online fraud, an 84-year-old man from Vadodara was duped of a staggering Rs 25 lakh by cybercriminals. The victim, Satish Shah, a resident of Diwalipura, filed a formal complaint at the city's Cyber Crime police station after falling prey to a sophisticated phishing scam.
The Bait: A "Free" Credit Card Offer
The ordeal began in August when Shah received an unsolicited SMS on his phone. The message, appearing to originate from a bank, offered him a credit card at no cost. Intrigued by the offer, Shah responded to the text message. This single action set the trap in motion.
A couple of days later, he received a call from individuals posing as bank officials. They capitalised on his initial interest and guided him to the next phase of their scheme.
The Trap: Sharing Sensitive Details
The fraudsters, gaining Shah's trust over the phone, sent him a link to an electronic application form. They instructed him to fill in his personal and financial details to process the "free" credit card. Unaware of the malicious intent, the octogenarian complied and entered his information, which crucially included his debit card details.
This proved to be a catastrophic mistake. The cybercriminals now had all the keys needed to plunder his bank account.
Aftermath and Swift Financial Drain
Almost immediately after submitting the form, Shah started receiving a flurry of transaction alerts on his phone. The messages indicated that large sums of money were being rapidly debited from his account. Panicked, he contacted his bank to report the unauthorized transactions and requested them to block his debit card.
However, the action, though swift, came too late. By the time the card was blocked, the cyber thieves had already siphoned off Rs 25 lakh from his life's savings. The Vadodara Cyber Crime police have registered a case and are investigating the matter, tracing the digital footprint of the criminals.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the increasing threat of phishing scams targeting individuals across India, especially those less familiar with digital security protocols. Experts urge the public to never share OTPs, card details, or CVV numbers with anyone over call, SMS, or email, regardless of how legitimate the source appears. Banks do not send links to update details or offer cards via such unverified messages. Vigilance and verification are the best defenses against such evolving cyber crimes.
