Delhi Woman Duped in Fake Police Online Hostage Scam; Loses Rs 2 Lakh – How to Protect Yourself from Cyber Frauds

A Delhi woman recently became a victim of one of the most shocking online scams in recent times, losing Rs 2 lakh after being duped by cops posing as police officers. The disturbing incident goes on to highlight the growing threat of cybercrime and the increasingly sophisticated tactics of fraudsters. What happened and how can you protect yourself from similar scams?.

A Delhi graphic designer receives a completely unexpected call from someone claiming to represent a courier service, alleging that a person with whom an Aadhaar number was associated had sent a suspicious parcel containing MDMA and more. It was a call that led to an elaborate scam. She got transferred to another person whom she believed was an officer from Mumbai's crime branch. This guy accused her of money laundering as she was allegedly connected with several fake bank accounts, she was alleging, through her Aadhaar number.

Under immense pressure and with threats to her safety, they threatened that in case she did not fulfill their demands, all her bank accounts would freeze. They asked her to lock herself in a room and communicate only through Skype so that no one else could spot her. During the four hours that followed, the scammer convinced her to deposit Rs 2 lakh into an account they provided. She got to know of the fraud only when the call got over.

Luckily, the woman lodged a report to the police stating that she was the victim of such a fraud. The police say they are investigating this case. They have warned citizens to be cautious of such scams, saying that lately, these kinds of frauds have become a norm.

How to Avoid Online Scams

Refuse unsolicited calls: There are some kind of scary calls asking for instant decision or threatening you. Cross-check all information with proper authorities.

Keep your details private: Never share any confidential details with a caller, whether it is your Aadhaar number or your banking information.

Two-factor authentication: You can enable two-factor authentication in all the available platforms for added security while accessing any online account or for doing any transaction.

Report immediately: Hang up immediately if you feel that you're being scammed and report the incident to your local police station or cyber crime cell.

Stay updated: Keep track of the latest cyber frauds and scams that have been taking place in India, particularly targeting unsuspecting people either through a phone call or through a message.

Awareness: Hence, by being alert and taking all these precautions, you are saving yourself from falling into similar online scams.

Also read: Assam Unregulated Deposit scam: CBI raids 92 locations, arrests accused in West Bengal