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Mumbai, India – An 87-year-old retired doctor from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) fell victim to a phishing scam, losing ₹16 lakh after searching online for pest control contact information. The incident occurred when the doctor, seeking pest control services for her residential society in Khar (West), inadvertently contacted a scammer through a fraudulent number listed online.
According to the FIR filed at the West Cyber Police Station on Friday, December 20, 2024, the victim, who retired from the BMC in 1997, was searching for contact details of the BMC’s H West ward pest control services on Google. Upon finding a number, she called and spoke with a woman who requested a ₹50 registration fee, assuring her that no further charges would be required.
The scammer then sent a malicious link to the victim’s phone, instructing her to fill out a form to register for the service. Unbeknownst to the doctor, opening the link compromised her phone, allowing the fraudsters access to her banking information.
While still on the call, the victim received a notification that ₹1.85 lakh had been debited from her Kotak Mahindra Bank account. When she confronted the scammer, she was told that ₹1 lakh would be returned. The doctor immediately disconnected the call and visited her banks the next day, discovering that a total of ₹16 lakh had been fraudulently withdrawn from her accounts.
The West Cyber Police are currently investigating the case.
Disclaimer:Members of the public are cautioned to be vigilant and verify the authenticity of contact information before engaging with unfamiliar numbers or clicking on suspicious links. Always double-check with official sources and be wary of requests for personal or financial information.
Citations:
[1] https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/mumbai-news/87yearold-retired-bmc-doctor-opens-phishing-link-loses-16-l-101743967544103.html
