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In a shocking incident that highlights the increasing prevalence of cyber fraud, a woman from Noida was recently scammed of Rs 30 lakh. This incident serves as a reminder of the smart tactics used by cybercriminals and the importance of being fully informed in the digital age. As this case unfolds, it acts as a wake-up call for everyone to be aware of the rising scams going around.
Noida Woman Scammed Rs 30 Lakh By Cyber Fraudsters: How It Happened
The victim Priyanka Bansal, 40 years old, living in Prateek Wisteria apartments in Sector 77 shared that she received a video call from an unknown number, on September 2, 2024. She reported that she was allegedly duped of Rs 30 lakh by cyber fraudsters posing as officials from Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) who told her that her Aadhaar card had been used to issue a mobile number that was involved in fraudulent transactions, officials said on September 25, 2024, as per a report by Hindustan Times.
The woman also said in her report, “The person also threatened me and said if I do not cooperate, police will visit my house, arrest me, and spoil my reputation. He said all my calls are getting tapped and all my bank accounts will be checked for bogus transactions. They also asked me to send money to accounts which they mentioned are of the Reserve Bank of India, in order to issue a ‘clearance report’ and protect my personal information after the case is closed.”
Other Rising Scams You Need To Be Aware Of
As cyber fraud becomes increasingly common, it's essential to be informed about other scams that are making headlines. Here are four additional scams that are currently on the rise:
1. WhatsApp Trading Scam
A businessman from Noida has fallen into a cybercrime scheme, resulting in a loss of Rs 9 crore due to a fraudulent trading app. Rajat Bothra, a resident of Sector 40, was drawn into the scam after engaging in discussions about the stock market on WhatsApp. He was added to a stock market trading group in May 2024, and by May 27, 2024, he had invested Rs 9.09 crore in shares. Shortly after this investment, his trading account was abruptly closed. In response to the fraud, he filed an FIR at the Cyber Crime police station, and authorities have managed to freeze around Rs 1.62 crore of the transacted funds.
The police stated, “When we got the complaint, we immediately started an investigation and so far we have managed to get Rs 1.62 crore in his bank account frozen. During the investigation, it was found that the bank accounts in which the duped money was transferred are located at various places, including Chennai, Assam, Bhubaneswar, Haryana, and Rajasthan.”
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2. Job Scams
A 27-year-old accountant from Mumbai lost Rs 7.23 lakh in a part-time job scam. In April 2024, she received a job offer via text, claiming she could earn money by subscribing to YouTube channels. After subscribing to two channels and receiving Rs 120 as initial credit, she was later asked to send a screenshot of her subscriptions. The scammers then provided a 'job code' and instructed her to send it to a Telegram account, after which they requested her bank details, according to the Free Press Journal and India Today report.
Over the next few days, the scammers deposited money into the woman's account to complete various tasks. However, they ultimately withdrew Rs 7,23,889 in four separate transactions. Upon discovering this fraud activity, she filed a complaint against them.
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3. Cryptocurrency Fraud Scams
In July 2024, a girl from the Delhi-NCR region reported losing Rs 12 lakh in an online review for a reward game that passed money through a fake crypto platform. ACP Singh highlighted the Indian government’s National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP), a mechanism that allows citizens to file complaints and report suspected cyber crimes.
He stated that, “In 2023, the NCRP received over 100,000 complaints from across India and that 10,000 first incident reports (FIRs), or criminal complaints, were filed. Meanwhile, from January 1 until April 23, 2024, 394 FIRs worth more than one Crore ($120K) in fraud losses were reported. He estimated that 25,000 Crores (almost $3B) had been lost in the last three years to date”, as per Crystal Intelligence portal.
If you encounter an online fraud or scam, report it to the local police authorities or cybercrime units. This might help you get your money back and can prevent others from falling victim.
For more such stories, stay tuned to HerZindagi.
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