Despite stringent laws and precautions, cyber criminals persist in targeting innocent people through online platforms, leaving victims vulnerable to theft and fraud. In a recent incident in Hyderabad, a young woman fell prey to a scam where criminals siphoned off Rs. 7.50 lakh under the guise of settling a non-existent credit card bill.
According to police reports, the victim received a call from a cyber criminal posing as a credit card company representative. Threatening her with payment demands for an alleged credit card bill, the criminal, upon learning she didn’t possess a credit card, redirected the call to another scammer masquerading as customer service. Using the victim’s Aadhaar number, the criminals orchestrated fraudulent transactions across Mumbai, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, and other locations, totaling between 25 to 30 lakh rupees.
Fearing the consequences of non-compliance with the demands, the victim transferred Rs. 7.50 lakh to the criminal’s account after being assured of reimbursement once the investigation concluded. She shared the news with friends, only to realize later that she had been deceived. Subsequently, she reported the incident to cyber crime authorities, who have initiated legal proceedings under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to recover the stolen funds.
Police advise the public not to disclose personal information or engage in financial transactions under pressure from unknown callers, emphasizing vigilance and immediate reporting of any suspicious activities to prevent such scams.