Navi Mumbai Man Defrauded of Rs 10.3 Lakh in Sophisticated MGL Bill Scam
In a distressing incident of cyber fraud, a 42-year-old man from Ghansoli, Navi Mumbai, has been cheated of a staggering Rs 10.3 lakh by criminals using the deceptive MGL bill update scam. The victim, identified as Ashraf Gaeen, who owns a printing press, has filed a First Information Report (FIR) for cheating under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act at the Koparkhairane police station.
How the Elaborate Scam Unfolded
According to the FIR, the incident occurred on March 26 around 6 PM when Gaeen was at his residence. He received a WhatsApp message from an individual claiming to be Deepak Joshi, who falsely presented himself as an employee of Mahanagar Gas Limited (MGL). The message warned that due to a non-update of his MGL bill payment, his residential PNG connection would be disconnected.
Shortly after, Gaeen received a similar WhatsApp message from another number, which included an APK link. Unaware of the malicious intent, he downloaded the file, which subsequently allowed the fraudsters to gain remote access to his mobile data. This breach led to multiple unauthorized transactions from his savings bank account, totaling Rs 10.3 lakh.
Sensing that his mobile had been hacked, Gaeen immediately deleted the APK link and took steps to prevent further financial losses. The swift action helped avert additional unauthorized transactions, but the substantial amount had already been siphoned off.
Second Victim Emerges in Kharghar
This is not an isolated case. Investigations have revealed that the same fraudster, Deepak Joshi, had previously targeted a woman from Kharghar in February, defrauding her of Rs 4.9 lakh using an identical modus operandi. In that instance, the victim also received an APK link via WhatsApp, posing as an MGL employee, and subsequently experienced unauthorized bank transactions.
Alerted by bank alerts, the Kharghar woman promptly contacted her bank to report the suspicious activity. Her quick response enabled the bank to freeze her account, thereby preventing the scammer from executing further transactions. An FIR was registered at the Kharghar police station in connection with this earlier incident.
Police Investigation and Public Advisory
The Koparkhairane police are actively investigating the case, leveraging the FIR details to track the cyber fraudsters. Authorities emphasize the importance of public vigilance against such scams, which often exploit trust in utility providers like MGL.
Key precautions recommended by cybersecurity experts include:
- Avoid downloading APK files from unknown or unverified sources.
- Verify the authenticity of messages claiming to be from official entities by contacting them directly through official channels.
- Monitor bank accounts regularly for any unauthorized transactions and report suspicious activity immediately.
- Use strong, unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication for financial accounts.
This incident underscores the growing threat of cyber fraud in urban areas like Navi Mumbai, where scammers are employing increasingly sophisticated tactics to deceive unsuspecting victims. The public is urged to stay informed and exercise caution when dealing with digital communications, especially those involving financial matters.
