Nashik Cyber Police Investigate Sophisticated Online Scams Targeting Citizens
The cyber police in Nashik have officially registered two separate cases of cheating under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act, 2000. These cases involve sophisticated online scams that resulted in substantial financial losses for the victims.
First Case: Fake Traffic Fine Payment Link
According to the First Information Report (FIR), the first complainant received a deceptive message on his mobile phone. The message falsely claimed that a traffic fine was pending for an alleged violation of traffic rules. The text instructed the recipient to install an application via a provided link to settle the supposed fine.
When the unsuspecting victim clicked on the link, the fraudster gained unauthorized access to his smartphone. This breach allowed the conman to execute multiple financial transactions, ultimately siphoning off a staggering amount of Rs 9 lakh from the victim's accounts.
Second Case: Fraudulent MNGL Gas Bill Payment
In a remarkably similar incident, another victim in Nashik fell prey to a scam involving a fake MNGL gas connection bill. The individual received a message on his cellphone alerting him to a pending gas bill payment. The message included a link purportedly for settling the outstanding amount.
Upon clicking the link to pay the bill, the victim's phone was compromised by the cyber criminal. The fraudster then proceeded to withdraw a total of Rs 6.7 lakh from the victim's bank account, exploiting the access gained through the malicious link.
Police Investigation and Public Advisory
The Nashik cyber police have launched a thorough investigation into both cases, which occurred between January 18 and January 27. Authorities are working to identify the unidentified conmen behind these scams.
This incident highlights the growing threat of phishing scams targeting individuals through seemingly legitimate payment reminders. Police urge citizens to exercise extreme caution when receiving unsolicited messages with payment links. Always verify the authenticity of such communications directly with the concerned authorities or service providers before taking any action.
Residents are advised to avoid clicking on links from unknown sources and to report any suspicious messages to the cyber crime cell immediately to prevent further financial losses.
