Pune Woman Accidentally Pays ₹50K for ₹50 Fare via Google Pay; Rickshaw Driver Switches Off Phone, Police Recover Amount
Pune Woman Accidentally Pays ₹50K for ₹50 Fare via Google Pay; Rickshaw Driver Switches Off Phone, Police Recover Amount
Police intervene to recover the amount as digital transaction errors and cyber frauds continue to rise.
In a bizarre case of digital payment gone wrong, a woman in Pune accidentally transferred ₹50,000 instead of ₹50 to a rickshaw driver via Google Pay. The incident, which took place during a routine ride, led to a wave of panic when the driver became unresponsive after the transfer.
According to police from the Bharati Vidyapeeth Police Station, the woman attempted to reach the driver repeatedly after realizing her mistake. However, the rickshaw driver switched off his phone, raising suspicions. Taking swift action, the police tracked down the driver and brought him to the station. The entire amount was subsequently returned to the woman, who expressed gratitude for the timely help from law enforcement.
The incident has once again highlighted the risks associated with hurried digital payments, particularly in the age of UPI platforms like Google Pay, which are widely used but can lead to costly mistakes if used carelessly.
In another case of digital fraud in South Mumbai, a company was duped of ₹11 lakh via a cleverly disguised phishing email. The 31-year-old owner of a health solutions firm received an email from what appeared to be a legitimate company account, requesting a transfer of funds. However, upon further investigation, it was discovered that a single letter was altered in the email ID, making it a convincing fake.
The company transferred the money on April 24, and only realized the fraud after the intended recipient confirmed no such transaction was received. A case has been registered with the South Cyber Police, and investigations are underway.
Whether it’s day-to-day UPI use or handling large transactions via email, experts advise double-checking details and enabling app-level protections. Authorities urge users to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity immediately.
