Mangaluru: A 45-year-old resident of Mumbai was allegedly duped of more than Rs 3 lakh by cyber fraudsters who posed as representatives of a private bank and offered him a lifetime upgrade of his credit card.
According to a complaint lodged with the police, the victim had arrived at his mother’s residence in Karnire on June 17. While staying there, he received a phone call from an individual claiming to be a representative of a private bank.
The caller allegedly informed the victim that he was eligible for a lifetime upgrade of his existing credit card and offered to facilitate the process over the phone.
Fraudsters sent link through WhatsApp
Believing the offer to be genuine, the complainant agreed to proceed with the upgrade. The caller then sent him a link via WhatsApp and instructed him to complete the formalities online.
After clicking the link, the victim was redirected to a website that appeared to be related to the bank. He was asked to enter his credit card details as part of the upgrade process.
The complainant subsequently entered his card information and also shared a One-Time Password (OTP), believing it was required to complete the card upgrade.
Unauthorised transactions drain account
Soon after providing the details, the victim allegedly noticed multiple unauthorised transactions being carried out using his credit card.
According to the complaint, the fraudulent transactions resulted in a total loss of Rs 3,05,165.
Realising that he had been cheated, the victim approached the police and lodged a complaint, alleging that unknown persons had fraudulently obtained his credit card details under the pretext of upgrading his card.
Police register case
Based on the complaint, a case has been registered at Mulki Police Station against unknown persons under relevant sections pertaining to cyber fraud and cheating.
Police have launched an investigation to trace the accused and ascertain how the fraudsters gained access to the victim’s banking information.
Investigators are also examining the website link sent to the complainant and the mobile numbers used to contact him.
Rise in credit card-related cyber frauds
The incident once again highlights the growing threat posed by cyber fraudsters who impersonate bank officials and lure customers with attractive offers such as credit card upgrades, reward points and cashback schemes.
Police have repeatedly advised the public not to share confidential banking information, including card details, CVV numbers, passwords and OTPs, with anyone over the phone or through links received on messaging platforms.
Bank customers are also encouraged to verify any offers directly with their bank through official customer care numbers or mobile applications before sharing sensitive information.
The police have urged citizens to remain vigilant and immediately report suspicious calls or fraudulent transactions to the nearest police station or the national cybercrime helpline.