The first thing we do when we have a query about a product purchased or service we have received is contact the company's customer service department. Customers complain to the company's customer support team, which investigates the complaint and resolves it. Although the customer support team can assist you in resolving problems, you should be extremely cautious when calling them. The reason why this happens is that fraudsters create fake customer support numbers to rip people off.
Fraudsters steal Rs 62,000 from a woman and her friend in Maharashtra
According to police, a woman and her friend have been scammed out of around Rs 62,000 by a cyber fraudster who gained access to their bank accounts by having them download an app on their phones on his instructions.
An offense has been registered at Harsul police station here on December 14 in this connection, police said.
In her complaint, the 25-year-old woman, who is an employee of a private company, alleges that she would lose around Rs 40 extra per transaction through a digital payment gateway.
The woman looked online for the company's customer service number and called it to check what was wrong. The accused picked up the phone and posed as the customer care executive of the company. He instructed her to download an app to her phone that gave him control over her device.
Under the pretext of checking the issue, he asked the woman for Rs 200 from her account. However, after she transferred the amount, she lost Rs 1,411 from her account instead of Rs 200.
As she grew suspicious, the person requested that she add another user of that online payment system to the call. After adding her friend Ganesh Aher to the call, the caller asked him to transfer Rs 2,500. Rather than Rs 2,500, however, Rs 48,000 were debited. Afterward, Aher lost another 12,000 rupees. After that, the person disconnected the call.
An FIR was filed under IPC section 420 (cheating) and under the IT Act after the victims filed a complaint, police said.
Also Check: A fraudster steals Rs 3 lakhs using WhatsApp
Here are some tips to avoid this fraud:
1. Never tell anyone your password to your internet banking. Don't give anyone your personal information over the phone, such as credit card numbers, CVVs, OTPs, UPI PINs, etc. There will be no contact with banks or reputable companies requesting personal information.
2. If you want to call a company or bank's customer service number, do not Google it. You can find the company's customer service numbers on their official website.
3. Watch out for fraudulent calls requesting you to download third-party apps. You shouldn't let a stranger guide you through the mobile app installation process.
4. Using a digital escrow platform is recommended for making or receiving payments. With Escrow, you do not need to share any of your financial information with anyone. There is a platform for escrow called Vouch.
How does digital escrow work?
In digital escrow, a third-party account holds the money deposited by the buyer until the seller fulfills the terms of the contract. The escrow company supervises the transacting parties.
What is the role of Digital Escrow in preventing online fraud in India?
Digital escrow services are offered by many companies in India. Among the most trusted is Vouch.
Vouch’s Digital Escrow service is a transparent way for buyers and sellers to build trust and secure a clean transfer of product and payment. Sellers can feel assured that they will be fairly compensated promptly, and buyers will feel confident that their order will be delivered as expected and on schedule. Vouch Digital Escrow keeps you updated and informed at every step of the transaction process till the end. Vouch’s professionals are always available to assist you with all queries that you may have during the entire transaction process.
There is no scope for deceit or fraud since the payments, shipping, delivery, and execution are carried out under the honest and watchful eyes of the Vouch’s professionals. With Vouch, any business transaction becomes transparent, uncomplicated, and hassle-free. If you ever come across a fraudster asking for OTP, asking you to scan a QR code, or asking you to click on phishing links, you can simply refuse and ask him/her to proceed with the transaction through Vouch.
This is Fraud Story #133. Check back here for more fraud stories and scams that you can protect yourself from.
Safety is not just about protecting your credit, debit card number, and UPI accounts. It's about having control of your money till you've received the product or service you bought online!
Note: This is a good-faith initiative to educate the world about avoiding frauds like these and how to act when you're becoming a victim of such a situation.
Do you have a fraud you would like to report? Please write to us at letstalk@iamvouched.com
