Navi Mumbai Woman Defrauded of Rs 4.6 Lakh in Sophisticated Gas Bill Scam
A 54-year-old resident of Kharghar in Navi Mumbai has fallen victim to a sophisticated cyber fraud scheme, losing a staggering Rs 4.6 lakh to criminals impersonating officials from Mahanagar Gas Ltd (MGL). An FIR was officially registered on Wednesday, marking another alarming case in a series of similar scams targeting unsuspecting citizens.
How the Elaborate WhatsApp Scam Unfolded
The incident began on February 18 when the victim received a WhatsApp message that appeared to be from MGL. The message falsely claimed that her gas bill had not been updated and warned that the PNG supply to her residence would be disconnected within just two hours if immediate action was not taken.
The fraudulent communication included the name and mobile number of an individual identified as Devesh Joshi, whom she was instructed to contact to resolve the supposed issue. Upon calling the provided number, the person on the other end convincingly posed as a senior MGL official.
When the woman informed him that her gas bill payment had indeed been updated, the fraudster instructed her to send a screenshot as proof. He then sent her a link to download an APK file, claiming it was necessary to securely transmit the details.
Remote Hacking and Unauthorized Bank Transfers
As the victim proceeded to upload her payment details through the provided link, the cybercriminal successfully hacked her mobile device, gaining remote access to her sensitive data. This breach allowed the fraudster to illicitly debit funds directly from her bank account.
The woman only became aware of the theft when she started receiving multiple bank alerts notifying her of money being withdrawn from her account. Alarmed by these notifications, she immediately contacted her bank, where officials confirmed she had been targeted by cyber fraudsters in a well-orchestrated scam.
A Disturbing Pattern of Similar Frauds
This is not an isolated incident. In a strikingly similar case reported last September, a 71-year-old man from Koparkhairane lost a massive Rs 12 lakh to fraudsters using the same MGL bill payment pretext.
In that instance, the elderly victim received a message from an unidentified scammer warning him that his PNG pipeline would be disconnected due to alleged non-payment. The modus operandi involved creating a false sense of urgency to pressure victims into complying with fraudulent instructions.
These cases highlight a growing trend of cybercriminals exploiting utility bill payments to defraud citizens, particularly targeting vulnerable demographics such as the elderly. Authorities are urging the public to exercise extreme caution when receiving unsolicited messages regarding bill payments or service disruptions.
Residents are advised to verify any such communications directly through official channels and to never download unknown applications or share sensitive financial information via unverified links. The Navi Mumbai police are actively investigating these cases to identify and apprehend the perpetrators behind these sophisticated cyber fraud operations.
