Mumbai Policeman Falls Victim to Cyber Fraud; Loses Rs. 4.5 Lakhs in Debit Card Scam

Mumbai, 14th November 2023: In a distressing incident, a Mumbai Police constable stationed in Kalachowki Police Station has become the latest victim of cyber fraud, losing Rs. 4.5 lakhs in a debit card scam. The constable received a misleading message claiming to be from a bank representative, leading to the unauthorized transfer of funds from his account.

The incident unfolded when the constable, whose Axis Bank debit card had recently expired, received a message on his mobile. The message falsely claimed that his old debit card had expired, and a new one had been issued. To address any concerns and facilitate the process of obtaining a new card, the message instructed him to contact a specified number.

Upon contacting the number, the constable was connected with an individual posing as a bank representative. The fraudulent representative instructed the constable to click on a link provided in the message to download a supposed bank app. Falling victim to the scam, the constable followed the instructions, unknowingly downloading a deceptive app with the bank’s name.

During the interaction, the impersonator requested the constable to share his mobile screen, claiming it was necessary for assistance. While the constable was entering login credentials, passwords, and other sensitive information, the scammer manipulated the situation by convincing the constable to share the screen. Subsequently, the fraudster gained access to the constable’s debit card details and bank account information, exploiting the received OTPs through the screen-sharing session.

As a result, the cybercriminal successfully transferred Rs. 4.5 lakhs from the constable’s account. Realizing the unauthorized transactions, the constable promptly reported the incident to the 1930 helpline and filed a formal complaint at the Kalachowki Police Station.