New Town Senior Citizen Defrauded of Rs 3.8 Lakh in Elaborate KYC WhatsApp Scam
In a distressing incident highlighting the growing sophistication of digital fraud, a senior citizen residing in New Town, Kolkata, was allegedly duped of a substantial sum of Rs 3.8 lakh last week in a meticulously orchestrated KYC (Know Your Customer) update scam. The fraud, which unfolded on January 7, has prompted a police investigation and raised serious concerns about the vulnerability of elderly individuals to such cybercrimes.
The Deceptive WhatsApp Call and Malicious Link
According to the detailed complaint filed with the authorities, the victim received an unsolicited WhatsApp call around 11:00 AM from an unknown mobile number. The caller, posing as a legitimate banking official, urgently instructed the senior citizen to update his KYC details to avoid disruption of his banking services. Capitalizing on the victim's trust, the fraudster then sent a direct link via the WhatsApp messaging platform.
Upon clicking the provided link, the victim's smartphone reportedly became completely unresponsive for a brief but critical period. This temporary device malfunction was likely the moment when malicious software was deployed to gain unauthorized access to sensitive financial information stored on the phone.
Rapid Financial Drain and Immediate Bank Response
The situation escalated rapidly shortly thereafter. The senior citizen began receiving a flurry of real-time transaction alerts on his phone, indicating that multiple unauthorized payments were being siphoned from his linked bank account and credit card.
Police officials confirmed that the total value of these illicit transactions amounted to Rs 3,77,295. The stolen funds were routed through a complex web of digital payment platforms, including:
- Immediate UPI (Unified Payments Interface) transfers to unknown accounts.
- Unauthorized credit card transactions for goods and services.
Displaying quick thinking, the victim immediately contacted his private bank to report the fraudulent activity. The bank's security team acted promptly, blocking all banking services associated with his account and credit card to prevent further losses. Due to this swift intervention, several attempted debit transactions were either blocked in real-time or later credited back to the victim's account.
Police Investigation Underway to Trace Perpetrators
Based on the senior citizen's written complaint, the Kolkata Police have formally registered a First Information Report (FIR) and launched a comprehensive investigation. The primary objectives of the probe are to:
- Identify and locate the individuals or syndicate behind the sophisticated scam.
- Trace the intricate digital trail of the stolen funds across various payment platforms.
- Understand the technical methodology used to compromise the victim's device through the malicious link.
This case serves as a stark reminder for all citizens, especially older adults, to exercise extreme caution with unsolicited communication regarding financial updates. Banks and legitimate institutions never ask for KYC updates or sensitive details via WhatsApp calls or unverified links. Authorities advise verifying any such requests directly through official bank branches or verified customer care numbers before taking any action.
