Pune Crime: Fake Customer Care Number Found on Google Costs Senior Citizen Nearly ₹2 Lakh
Pune Crime: Fake Customer Care Number Found on Google Costs Senior Citizen Nearly ₹2 Lakh
Pimpri-Chinchwad (Pune), January 14, 2026: A shocking case of online fraud has come to light from the Ravet area of Pimpri-Chinchwad, where a 64-year-old senior citizen was cheated of nearly ₹2 lakh after contacting a fake customer care number found on Google.
The victim, Ratnakar Devendra Nashikkar (64), was searching online for information related to a Bank of Baroda death claim connected to a family member. While looking for the bank’s customer care number on Google, he unknowingly came across a fraudulent toll-free number operated by cyber criminals.
Believing the number to be genuine, Nashikkar contacted it. The person on the other end posed as a bank representative and gained his trust by assuring assistance with the claim process.
How the Fraud Occurred:
The accused sent Nashikkar an APK file via WhatsApp, claiming it was necessary to complete the death claim procedure. As soon as the senior citizen downloaded the file and entered the required details, the fraudsters gained remote access to his mobile phone. Within minutes, ₹1,99,500 was transferred from his bank account to an unknown account.
Realising that he had been cheated, Nashikkar immediately approached the Ravet Police Station. Police have registered a case against three unidentified mobile number holders, and cyber police teams are conducting technical analysis to trace the accused.
Police Advisory:
Police have once again warned citizens that not all customer care numbers displayed on Google are authentic. They have urged people to use only official bank websites or verified contact details for banking-related work and to never download unknown files or click on suspicious links, especially APK files sent via WhatsApp.
The incident highlights the growing threat of cyber fraud targeting senior citizens and underscores the need for greater digital awareness and caution.
