Mumbai woman loses Rs 6 lakh to cyber fraud while trying to save Rs 5,000 — here’s how to avoid such scams

In today’s fast-paced digital world, one small error can lead to a devastating outcome, as a 31-year-old Mumbai woman recently discovered. What started as a simple attempt to withdraw Rs 5,000 from an ATM ended with her losing Rs 6 lakh to cyber fraudsters.

The scam

On September 26, the woman, a resident of Ghatkopar West, tried to withdraw Rs 5,000 from an ATM using the cardless feature through her bank’s mobile app. Instead of receiving the money, she got a message indicating that the amount had been mistakenly transferred to the "Chief Minister's Disaster Relief Fund." Thinking this was a technical issue, she decided to contact the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) for help.

Turning to Google for help, the woman searched for NPCI's helpline number. She came across a toll-free number, ‘1800-41-2222-32,’ which she believed was legitimate. She dialed the number, unknowingly stepping into a trap set by cyber fraudsters. A man named Suresh Sharma answered the call, claiming to be an NPCI employee. He assured her that she would be contacted by another person for further assistance.

Gaining remote access

Soon after, she received a call from Amit Yadav, who convinced her to download a remote access app, supposedly to resolve the issue. Trusting Yadav, the woman provided her banking information, including passwords and details of her PAN and UPI accounts. Moments later, Rs 93,062 was withdrawn from her account. The money was transferred to the account of someone named Virendra Raikwar, leaving her stunned and confused.

Yadav then told the woman that a new account had been created for her and that her money would be returned within 24 hours. When the funds didn’t reappear, she contacted the fake helpline again, hoping for a resolution. This time, she was connected to another scammer named Rakesh Kumar Dosara, who repeated the process of extracting her details and draining her account. In a matter of days, she lost Rs 6 lakh in total between September 16 and 20.

It wasn’t until the woman had lost a significant amount of money that she realised she had been scammed. She approached the Ghatkopar police station to file a complaint, and a case of online fraud was registered. The investigation is ongoing, but recovering the stolen funds may be difficult.

Lessons to learn

This unfortunate incident highlights the growing sophistication of cyber scams and the risks of relying on search engines for critical information. Here are some key lessons from this case:

• Be cautious with online searches. Fraudsters often create fake websites and helpline numbers that appear legitimate. Always verify contact details from official bank or government websites.
• Never share sensitive information over the phone. No legitimate organisation will ask for passwords, PINs, or access to your phone screen.
• Avoid downloading unknown apps. Be wary of anyone asking you to download apps for “technical assistance,” especially if they ask for remote access to your device.
• Report suspicious activity immediately. If you notice unauthorised transactions, contact your bank immediately to try to block or reverse them.

(With inputs from agencies)