A superintendent from the Goods and Services Tax (GST) department in Mumbai fell victim to an online scam involving fake Know-Your-Customer (KYC) verification, resulting in a loss of Rs. 1.91 lakh. The incident, reported by Hindustan Times, occurred on Sunday when 50-year-old Srikumar Prasad received a message claiming his bank account’s KYC update was pending.
According to The Hindustan Times, Prasad, a resident of CGS Colony in Antop Hill, was prompted to call a number provided in the message to avoid deactivation of his debit and credit cards. Though the call initially went unanswered, he later received a call from a person posing as a bank employee. The caller claimed he was unavailable earlier due to work and offered to assist with the KYC process.
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The fraudster convinced Prasad to download a “quick support” app from the Google Play Store, which allowed remote access to his mobile device. Prasad was then asked to enter his debit and credit card details into the application. He also shared a one-time password (OTP) received on his phone, following which seven to eight fraudulent transactions were carried out, draining Rs. 1.91 lakh from his account.
Prasad’s bank alerted him to the suspicious activity, and he quickly blocked his account and registered a complaint at Antop Hill police station. An FIR was filed under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000.
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A police officer involved in the investigation emphasized that banks never request KYC updates via third-party apps or phone calls. “We have repeatedly warned the public not to share confidential banking information, including OTPs and card details, even if the caller claims to be from the bank,” the officer stated.
Authorities continue to investigate the scam while urging citizens to remain vigilant against rising digital frauds.
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