A private school teacher in Pune fell victim to a cyber fraud, losing Rs 1.31 lakh after she contacted a fraudulent customer care number to check the status of a cake order placed online for her husband's birthday. The incident occurred on January 31, and the woman filed a complaint with the Hinjewadi police on Tuesday.
How the Scam Unfolded
The woman, aged 51, ordered a cake through a food delivery application and paid Rs 427. The order was expected to arrive within an hour. When the cake did not arrive on time, she searched for the food delivery app's customer care number online and contacted it.
According to a police officer from Hinjewadi, the woman explained her situation to the receiver, requesting a refund as the order was not delivered on time. The man assured her that her money would be returned and instructed her to keep her cellphone on. He also asked her to make some changes in the phone settings.
Fraudulent Refund Process
The woman then received a message on her cellphone stating, "Please wait for the refund." Becoming suspicious, she contacted her husband using another cellphone. Her husband immediately checked her two bank accounts online and discovered that Rs 1.31 lakh had been siphoned off.
Police Investigation
The woman initially filed an online complaint application but later approached the Hinjewadi police on Tuesday to lodge a formal complaint. The police have sought transaction details of her two accounts to investigate the matter further.
This incident highlights the growing threat of cyber fraud, where scammers impersonate customer care representatives to gain access to victims' bank accounts. Authorities urge the public to verify customer care numbers from official sources and avoid sharing sensitive information over the phone.
