A 56-year-old company director from Bengaluru lost nearly ₹74,000 after falling victim to an online scam involving a fake bank reward points redemption message.
The fraud reportedly used urgency tactics, claiming it was the last day to redeem benefits.
How the scam happened
The victim, identified as Naveen (name changed), a resident of Banashankari I Stage, received a call and message from an unknown number on April 15.
The message contained a suspicious APK link asking him to choose a gift and pay a nominal processing fee of ₹34.
Believing it to be genuine, he made the payment using his credit card.
₹73,889 debited within minutes
Soon after the transaction, Naveen received an alert that ₹73,889 had been debited from his credit card without authorisation.
He immediately contacted his bank, which confirmed that his card details had been compromised.
The account was then frozen to prevent further misuse.
Complaint filed quickly
The victim reportedly called the national cybercrime helpline 1930 Cyber Helpline and registered a complaint.
Experts say rapid reporting can improve chances of blocking fraudulent transfers, though recovery is not always certain.
How to stay safe
Authorities warned people against clicking unknown links, especially APK files sent through messages.
Citizens are advised to verify reward offers only through official banking apps or websites and never share OTPs, CVV numbers or PINs.
Messages using pressure tactics such as “last day” or “urgent action required” are common scam signals.
Rising cyber fraud concern
The case adds to growing cybercrime incidents targeting residents through phishing links, fake bank alerts and reward point scams.
Experts say cyber awareness is now as important as financial awareness.#Bengaluru #CyberCrime #OnlineScam #FraudAlert #Safety #newskarnataka