A resident of Noida's Sector 105 fell victim to a sophisticated online fraud, losing a substantial sum of Rs 3.7 lakh to a scammer impersonating an employee of the electricity department. The incident, which highlights the growing menace of cyber crime, was reported to the police earlier this week.
The Modus Operandi of the Scam
The victim had recently applied for a new electricity meter. On November 25, he received a phone call from an individual claiming to be from the Noida Power Company Limited (NPCL). The imposter informed the resident that the company was ready to install the meter at his house and proceeded with the next step of the scam.
The caller sent a link to the victim, directing him to download a mobile application. Under the guise of processing the installation, the scammer asked the man to enter his card details on the app to make a nominal payment of just Rs 13. Unaware of the trap, the resident complied with the instructions.
The Discovery of the Fraud
The fraudulent transaction did not end with the small payment. Three days later, on November 28, the victim's wife checked their bank account and discovered a shocking truth. Approximately Rs 3.75 lakh had been siphoned off from their account through multiple unauthorized transactions.
Realising they had been targeted by cyber criminals, the couple immediately took action. The victim first registered a complaint on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal and subsequently approached the local cyber crime police station in person to file a formal First Information Report (FIR).
Legal Action and Ongoing Investigation
Based on the complaint, the police have initiated a formal investigation and registered a case under relevant sections of the law. The charges include:
- Sections 318(4) (cheating) and 319(2) (cheating by personation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
- Sections 66, 66C, and 66D of the Information Technology Act, which deal with computer-related offences, identity theft, and cheating by personation using computer resources.
This case adds to a growing list of cyber fraud incidents in the National Capital Region where scammers impersonate officials from utility departments. The police are analysing the digital trail, including the phone number and the link sent to the victim, to identify and apprehend the culprits.
The incident serves as a critical reminder for citizens to exercise extreme caution when receiving unsolicited calls or links, even if the caller claims to be from a known government or service provider. Experts advise directly contacting the company through official customer care numbers to verify any such requests before sharing personal or financial information.
