Residents of the Tricity region are being warned about a disturbing increase in online frauds after multiple incidents resulted in significant financial losses for the victims. These cases highlight the increasing sophistication and diversity of tactics employed by scammers.
In Chandigarh, two residents were targeted by online fraudsters, collectively losing over Rs 2.65 lakh. Rajbir Singh Rai of Sector 33 reported being tricked out of Rs 1.9 lakh by a scammer impersonating a representative from Indusind Bank. The culprit convinced Rai to download a malicious app that ultimately facilitated the theft of funds from his credit card. Another resident from Sector 49 fell victim to a scam while trying to book a hotel in Rishikesh. The scammer offered a fake discount and possibly obtained the woman’s financial details to steal Rs 74,578.
Panchkula has also witnessed a rise in online scams. Renu, a resident of Sector 17, lost a staggering amount of Rs 20.74 lakh in an elaborate scheme. The scammers initially offered her financial assistance in exchange for “liking” social media accounts. After gaining her trust with small initial payments, they convinced her to transfer a significant amount of money to their accounts under the pretense of rectifying mistakes made during the process.
Another disturbing case involved a 70-year old resident of Panchkula, Inder Mohan Sharma. Sharma lost Rs 43.11 lakh after clicking on a fraudulent WhatsApp message that promised easy online earnings. The scam lured him into making small investments that gradually escalated, ultimately resulting in this significant financial loss.
The authorities are actively investigating these incidents, The Chandigarh cyber police have registered cases against unidentified individuals in the Rai and Sector 49 cases. Similarly. The Panchkula cyber crime police station is investigating the cases of Sharma and Renu.
