What happened to a Bengaluru woman who lost ₹1.2 crore in a cyber scam
A 77-year-old woman in Bengaluru was recently defrauded of Rs. 1.2 crore in an online scam. Lakshmi Shivakumar was contacted by an individual pretending to be a Telecom Department official, alleging that she was involved in illegal activities using a SIM card registered in her name. The caller also mentioned that a complaint had been lodged with the Mumbai crime branch.
Shivakumar later received calls from persons claiming to be officers of the Mumbai Crime Branch. They accused him of money laundering and demanded information about his bank accounts and investments, threatening arrest if he did not comply. Fraudsters produced fake documents like fake FIR and Supreme Court arrest warrant to add credibility to their claims.
Believing the scam, Shivakumar transferred Rs. 1,28,70,000 to scammers. They assured him that the money would be returned once the investigation was completed. After waiting without hearing back, Shivakumar tried to contact them but they had become unreachable. I realized that he had been cheated, he filed a criminal complaint.
Follow these safety tips to avoid falling victim to similar scams:
1. Be careful about unwanted calls and messages. Do not share personal or financial information with unknown callers or through unverified links.
2. Check the authenticity of financial or personal information made through official channels.
3. Install and update security software on your devices to protect against malware and other threats.
4. Stay up-to-date on the latest cyber threats and scams by reading online resources or participating in awareness programs.
5. Be careful when sharing sensitive information on social media platforms.
6. Use strong, complex passwords for all online accounts and enable two-factor authentication when possible.
7. Monitor your bank accounts regularly and report suspicious activity immediately.
By staying alert and informed, you can protect yourself from online fraud and avoid falling victim to scams like the one Shivakumar experienced.
