A 77-year-old woman in Bengaluru recently fell victim to an online scam, losing Rs 1.2 crore. Lakshmi Shivakumar received a call from a person posing as an official from the Department of Telecommunications, who accused her of illegal activities using a SIM card in her name. The caller claimed that a complaint had been filed with the Mumbai crime branch.
Shivakumar then received calls from individuals claiming to be officers from the Mumbai Crime Branch. They accused her of money laundering and demanded details of her bank accounts and investments, threatening to arrest her if she did not comply. The fraudsters presented forged documents, including a fake FIR and a High Court arrest warrant, to lend credence to their claims.
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Believing in the scam, Shivakumar transferred Rs 1,28,70,000 to the fraudsters. They assured her that the money would be returned after the investigation was completed. After waiting without receiving a response, Shivakumar tried to contact them, but they were not reachable. Realizing that she had been duped, she filed a police complaint.
To avoid falling victim to similar scams, follow these safety tips:
1. Be cautious of unwanted calls and messages. Do not share personal or financial information with unknown callers or through unverified links.
2. Verify the authenticity of any requests for money or personal information through official channels.
3. Install and update security software on your device to protect against malware and other threats.
4. Stay informed about the latest online threats and scams by reading online resources or attending 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. Regularly monitor your bank accounts and report any suspicious activity immediately.
By staying vigilant and informed, you can protect yourself from online fraud and avoid falling victim to scams like Shivakumar did.
