Doctor Duped Out of Rs. 4.9 Lakh – Beware of Cab Service Refund Scam!
In the current post-Covid era, we have become increasingly reliant on contacting customer care services for even the smallest queries or issues. However, our approach to finding these contact numbers often involves a hasty Google Search, leading us to dial the first number that appears without much consideration. Unfortunately, this proved to be a costly mistake for a doctor in Delhi who fell victim to an online cab refund scam. In his rush to connect with the cab service’s customer care, which he found online, the doctor, Pradeep Chowdhury, unknowingly fell into the trap set by these criminals. Shockingly, he ended up losing over Rs. 4.9 lakh while seeking a refund for being overcharged by the cab driver. Let’s delve into the details of this unfortunate incident.
Delhi Online Scam
According to the Times of India, Dr Pradeep Chowdhury from Arjun Nagar in Safdarjung Enclave was on his way to Gurgaon for work during which he was charged an extra 50 euros. 113. To request a refund, he googled the taxi service’s customer service number and dialed it. However, Pradeep didn’t know what he might face next. The caller was answered by a scammer who described himself as a taxi service customer service representative.
Pradeep explained the entire situation to the caller and then he was directed to another person named Rakesh Mishra. The callers tricked the doctor into downloading a remote mapping app and opening his e-wallet, where the fraudster asked Pradeep to enter the refund amount and the first six digits of his phone number. The scammer described the steps as a verification process. After the process, the victim was asked to share the OTP during which he lost Rs. 4.9 lakh – across four different stores!
Now this online scam is being investigated and a case has been registered under IPC Section 420 (related to cheating) and 66 D of the IT Act. It is suspected that a fraudster posted a fake customer service number online and Chowdhury fell victim to online fraud. Now the authorities are actively working to solve the case and find the fraudsters who have cheated people with fake numbers.
