A 27-year-old doctor was duped of Rs 1.40 lakh after he tried to order 25 plates of samosas online from a popular eatery in Sion, Mumbai. The doctor and his colleagues planned a picnic in the suburbs and decided to order samosas for the journey. The doctor, who was posted at the citizen-run KEM Hospital, found an eatery called Gurukripa online and decided to place his order from there. But he was unaware that the fraudsters had changed the restaurant’s contact number online. As a result, the doctor called cybercriminals instead of hotel employees.
The incident took place between 8:30 am and 10:30 am on July 8, officials said, PTI reported. When the doctor calls the number provided, the fraudster asks him to pay Rs 1,500 as an advance for the order. He was sent a link on WhatsApp, which claimed to have confirmation of the order. It also contained the bank account number where he was asked to send the money online.
After payment, fraudsters tell the doctor that he has not received the money yet and ask the doctor to send the payment transaction ID. The fraudster asked the doctor to type 28807 into Google Pay to initiate the payment, Indian Express reported.
Cray trending stories
Through this process, the doctor initially lost Rs 28,807, and later, the total amount stood at Rs 1.40 lakh. Realizing that he is in the hands of cyber criminals, the doctor goes to Bhouiwada police station to file a complaint. A case has been registered against unidentified fraudsters, PTI reported.
Such online scams are not new but they are growing at a rapid rate in this digital age. There have been recent incidents where fraudsters have posed as PG brokers, bank employees and even customs officials to dupe them. These fraudsters look for your bank account details and siphon money for personal gain. As these cases continue to increase, it is very important for you to take some precautions to keep your money safe
Here are a few things to keep in mind before ordering anything online:
Be aware of online scams: It is important that you are aware of online scams. Recently, a woman was duped out of millions by a man she met on a matrimonial site. Educate yourself by learning from the mistakes of others.
Do not give bank account details over the phone: Fraudsters often call and ask for your bank account details by posing as bank employees. You should not give out your bank account details to anyone unless you are absolutely sure and have met them in person first. Many banks now send warning messages about not sharing your account details or OTP with anyone.
Verify authenticity: Always cross-check the credibility and authenticity of the websites you are shopping or ordering from Email address, check reviews and ratings.
