Pune: 59 Year Old Sinhagad Road Resident Loses ₹22.89 Lakh In Online Fraud
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A 59-year-old resident of Sinhagad Road in Pune was duped of ₹22.89 lakh by cybercriminals in October while attempting to book rooms at an ashram in Girnar, Gujarat.
The victim had booked two rooms from December 25-26 through a website, which sent him a confirmation email. However, things took a turn for the worse when he contacted the number listed in the email. The fraudster on the other end asked for a booking fee of ₹1,280 via a QR code. After making the payment, the fraudster requested an additional ₹1,433 for room charges.
The victim was then told that ₹1,280 would be refunded, but instead, ₹19,884 was debited from his account. When he called back, he was asked to repeat the process, resulting in a further loss of ₹48,000.
The fraudster then introduced a “manager” who took the victim’s bank details and debit card photos, assuring him a refund within 24 hours. However, on October 13, the victim shared OTPs with the manager, leading to a siphoning of ₹10 lakh. By October 17, the total loss reached ₹22.89 lakh.
Realizing he had been scammed, the victim filed a complaint with the cyber police. A preliminary investigation led to a case being registered with the Parvati police.
This incident highlights the increasing threat of online fraud and the importance of being cautious when making transactions online.
