In a series of sophisticated cyber frauds, three residents of Pune, including a serving Army officer, were collectively cheated of a staggering Rs 11.33 lakh in separate online scams impersonating the Regional Transport Office (RTO). The incidents, which occurred between December 5 and December 15, have prompted police complaints across multiple stations in the city.
Modus Operandi: How the Scams Unfolded
The fraudsters employed varied but equally deceptive tactics to trap their victims. In the first case, a 49-year-old Army officer residing in Pashan received a message containing a challan link on December 15. Upon clicking, it displayed a pending fine of Rs 590. The link led to a form requesting personal details and a One-Time Password (OTP).
After he submitted the information, he was shocked to receive an alert about a transaction worth Rs 3.83 lakh from his credit card. The payment was made in Hong Kong dollars at a hotel in Hong Kong. Realising he had been duped, the officer immediately approached the Chatushrungi police station, where a formal case was registered.
SIM Deactivation Leads to Bank Theft
In a second, more complex scheme reported to the Sinhagad Road police, a 42-year-old real estate consultant received a call on December 5 from a person claiming to be from the Mumbai RTO. The caller insisted a challan had been issued against the victim's vehicle. When the consultant clarified he did not own a car and ended the call, the trouble began.
Soon after, he found one of his SIM cards had no network. By the next day, December 6, the outgoing call facility was deactivated. He then received a bank message informing him that Rs 5 lakh had been transferred from his account to an unknown account via IMPS. An online complaint was filed, leading to a police case after preliminary investigation.
Malicious APK File Siphons Funds
The third victim, who filed a complaint with the Chinchwad police, fell prey to a malware attack on December 5. He received an '.APK file' supposedly related to a pending RTO challan. The moment he opened the file on his phone, cyber criminals gained remote access to his device.
Using this access, the fraudsters proceeded to drain a total of Rs 2.5 lakh from his two bank accounts. The victim approached the cyber police, and a case was subsequently registered at the Chinchwad police station following initial inquiries.
Police Response and Public Advisory
Officials from all three police stations have confirmed the registration of cases under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Information Technology Act. The investigations are ongoing. These incidents highlight a worrying trend of scammers exploiting official-looking communication related to traffic fines to commit financial fraud.
Cyber security experts advise the public to exercise extreme caution:
- Never click on links or download attachments from unsolicited messages regarding fines or challans.
- Verify any pending challan directly through the official state transport website or at the RTO office.
- Never share OTPs, bank details, or personal information over the phone or via unknown links.
- Avoid installing APK files from unofficial or unknown sources, as they often contain malware.
- If you suspect fraud, immediately contact your bank to block transactions and file a police complaint.
The Pune police have urged citizens to remain vigilant and report any such suspicious calls or messages immediately to help curb the operations of these cyber criminals.
