Cyber Con: Woman Duped of Rs 6 Lakh Via Fake Helpline

A 31-year-old woman lost Rs 6 lakh to scammers through a fake helpline number after a Google search. Believing the number to be genuine, she shared sensitive details leading to significant financial loss. A police investigation has been initiated following her complaint.

A 31-year-old Ghatkopar resident has purportedly been defrauded of Rs 6 lakh by online scammers after placing her trust in a helpline number obtained via a Google search. The police revealed that the woman sought assistance from Ghatkopar police station on Wednesday, exposing the scam.

The scam unfolded when the woman attempted a cardless Rs 5,000 withdrawal from an ATM using a mobile app on September 26. An error redirected her transaction to a UPI account associated with a disaster relief fund. In her subsequent attempt to resolve the issue, a spurious toll-free NPCI helpline from a Google search misled her into sharing sensitive information.

After contacting the fake helpline, impostors, posing as legitimate officials, extracted crucial details, enabling unauthorized access to her bank funds. The woman recognized the deceit after recurrent financial deductions, prompting her to lodge a complaint. Police have registered a case against unknown individuals while investigations are ongoing.

(With inputs from agencies.)