Hyderabad student scammed of Rs. 2.2 lakhs in online medicine fraud
Hyderabad: A 23-year-old student from Hyderabad fell victim to an online cyber fraud after attempting to purchase Cipla Nicotine gums through unofficial sources. The total loss amounted to ₹2,25,000.
On May 4, the student was searching online for Cipla Nicotine Gums, priced around ₹5,000 per unit. While looking for wholesale sellers, the victim contacted an individual claiming to offer the product at discounted rates. Trusting the claim, the student transferred ₹25,000 to a bank account for five units of the medicine.
When the delivery was delayed, the student requested a refund. During a WhatsApp voice call with the seller, a message containing a suspicious link or APK file was sent to the victim’s mother’s phone. The link was accidentally clicked while still on the call.
Soon after, the victim received a notification that ₹2,00,000 had been debited from their bank account. A follow-up call from the bank sought to confirm the transaction. The student immediately reported the transaction as unauthorized.
The bank advised the victim to contact the Cyber Crime Helpline at 1930 and report the incident at www.cybercrime.gov.in.
Public Advisory:
- Be cautious while purchasing medicines online; buy only from verified pharmacies or government-approved platforms.
- Do not click on unknown links or download APK files from unverified sources.
- Avoid making large payments without verifying the authenticity of the seller.
- Use multi-factor authentication for online banking and avoid saving banking credentials on shared devices.
- In case of suspicious activity, immediately contact your bank and report cyber frauds by calling 1930 or visiting www.cybercrime.gov.in.
- For urgent help, call or WhatsApp at 8712665171.
