Hyderabad man loses Rs. 1 lakh in phone scam despite not sharing OTP

Hyderabad: A 50-year-old man from Hyderabad fell victim to a cyber fraud, losing Rs. 1,00,000/- (one lakh only) from his bank account. According to the Hyderabad Cybercrime police, the victim received a call from someone claiming to be an employee of Union Bank.

The scammer informed the victim about a new credit card being issued in his name. Following this, the call escalated to a video call via WhatsApp. During the video call, the scammer, in an attempt to gain the victim's trust, requested to share his phone screen. Believing the call to be legitimate, the victim complied.

However, the scammer gained unauthorized access to the victim's phone, effectively taking control and preventing him from even switching it off. Within a few hours, one lakh amount was debited from the victim's account, even though he did not share any One-Time Password (OTP) with the fraudster.

The victim has filed a complaint with the Hyderabad Cybercrime police, requesting necessary action against the perpetrators.

Police advisory:

The Hyderabad Cybercrime police advised the public to remain vigilant against such scams:

• Never respond to emails, messages, or calls requesting updates or verification of KYC documents through embedded links.

• Under no circumstances share sensitive information like User ID, password, debit card number, PIN, CVV, or OTP. If there are genuine concerns, immediately change your credentials.

• Legitimate financial institutions, including banks and the RBI, do not ask customers to share confidential information.

• Keep these confidential details private, even from family and friends.

• If unsure about the legitimacy of a request, visit your bank branch in person.

What to do if you become a victim

If you suspect you are a victim of cybercrime,

• Dial the national helpline number 1930.

• Visit the official website of the Cyber Crime portal of India: www.cybercrime.gov.in.

• For emergencies involving cyber fraud, call or WhatsApp the Hyderabad Cybercrime police at 8712665171.