Mira Bhayandar: The innovative methods used by cyber-criminals have left the vigilance agencies and financial institutions scratching their heads.
A 39-year-old man Bhayandar working in a hospital in Mumbai became the latest target of cyber criminals who gained access to his device and not only emptied his account by siphoning off the entire balance amounting Rs 1.55 lakh but also proceeded to obtain a personal loan amounting more than Rs 2.48 lakh without his knowledge or consent.
About The Case
In his statement to the police, the complainant said that he was facing difficulties in operating the mobile application of a reputed nationalised bank in which he has a savings account. He received a call from a person who claimed to be a representative of the bank assigned to help him solve the technical glitches ensuring seamless usage of the application.
The caller sent a link on the WhatsApp number of the complainant directing him to enter the bank details. The complainant complied and revealed sensitive bank-related account details. However, he was shocked to learn that Rs 1.55 lakh was fraudulently withdrawn from his account. Upon enquiring with the bank, he received yet another jolt as the cyber crooks had managed to avail a loan amounting Rs 2.48 lakh.
The cyber crooks had apparently hacked into his phone via the malicious link and siphoned off the balance before proceeding to avail the loan. An offence under the relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita and Information Technology Act was registered at the Navghar police station in Bhayandar. Further investigations were on.
Several instances in which mobile phones were hacked and loans obtained from banks without the consent of the victims have been reported from the region. A 38-year-old techie from Mira Road working as a team manager for a laptop trading firm was recently cheated in a similar way after cyber crooks gained access to his device and availed a personal loan amounting Rs 14.90 on his account.
