A man from Karkala in Udupi district learned a harsh lesson about the dangers of unofficial customer care helplines. Ashok Kumar, aged 37, allegedly lost a staggering Rs 85,999 while trying to report small monthly deductions from his bank accounts.
How the Scam Unfolded
Ashok Kumar noticed that Rs 74 and Rs 80 were being debited from his two accounts every month. He wanted to report this issue to his bank. While searching online for the bank's customer care number, he found one that appeared legitimate but turned out to be fake.
He dialled the number and spoke to the person on the other end. The recipient asked him to share his PhonePe number. Within seconds of entering the number, money started disappearing from his accounts.
The Financial Loss
Rs 49,999 was deducted from one account. Another Rs 36,000 vanished from the second account. This brought his total loss to Rs 85,999.
Karkala police station registered a complaint in this matter. The case falls under sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the Information Technology Act. It also involves Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Another Victim in Udupi
In a separate incident, a woman from Udupi discovered that over Rs 1.6 lakh was illegally transferred from her bank account. The transactions happened without her knowledge or consent.
How She Found Out
The complainant from Chitpadi visited a bank branch at Kukkikatte on January 12. She went there at 1 pm to invest in a fixed deposit. While checking the details of her savings bank account, she noticed something alarming.
Some unknown persons had transferred Rs 1,59,519.03 from her account to another account. These online transactions occurred between January 8 and January 10.
Police Action
Based on her complaint, Udupi Town police station registered a case. The charges include Section 318(4) of the BNS and Section 66(D) of the IT Act.
Key Takeaways
These two cases highlight the growing risk of financial fraud in the digital age. Here are some important points to remember:
- Always use official customer care numbers from bank websites or statements.
- Never share personal financial details like PhonePe numbers with unknown callers.
- Regularly monitor bank accounts for any unauthorized transactions.
- Report suspicious activities to your bank and police immediately.
The police are investigating both cases. They urge citizens to remain vigilant against such scams.
