Panchkula, a city in Haryana, was struck by a wave of cyber fraud cases as three residents fell victim to scams orchestrated by online con artists. The incidents, which were reported on Monday, highlighted the growing threat of cybercrime in the area.
The first case involved Suresh Kumar Sethi, a retired government official residing in Sector 2, Panchkula. Sethi was targeted by a scammer who posed as an officer from Punjab National Bank’s credit card department. The fraudster, identified as Avinash Raj, lured Sethi with the promise of a “lifetime free Rupay credit card” and requested sensitive documents for KYC verification. However, the scam took a drastic turn when Sethi received unauthorized payment requests amounting to Rs 81,147 on his ICICI Bank credit card. Subsequent attempts to make fraudulent transactions worth over Rs 2.5 lakh were thwarted by the bank, but not before the victim suffered a significant financial loss.
In a similar incident, Sushma Rani, a teacher at Govt Senior Secondary School in Manimajra, also fell prey to an online scam involving her newly issued HDFC Bank credit card. The fraudster, posing as a representative from HDFC Bank, tricked Rani into sharing OTPs (One Time Passwords) under the guise of setting up auto-debit services. As a result, fraudulent charges totaling Rs 2.9 lakh were made through unauthorized Amazon purchases, leaving the victim in a state of shock and financial distress.
The third case involved Prashant Negi, a Pinjore resident who received a deceptive WhatsApp message offering a lucrative part-time job opportunity. The fraudster, claiming to represent a recruitment agency, enticed Negi with a daily payment of 1,500 rupees and instructed him to deposit money in a bank account after installing Telegram. However, Negi soon realized that he had been swindled out of Rs 2.37 lakh, highlighting the cunning tactics employed by cyber criminals to deceive unsuspecting individuals.
These incidents serve as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and caution while navigating the digital landscape. With cyber fraud on the rise, residents of Panchkula and beyond must exercise caution when sharing sensitive information online and remain wary of unsolicited calls and messages. It is imperative for individuals to stay informed about the latest scams and report any suspicious activities to the authorities to prevent further financial losses and protect themselves from falling victim to cybercriminals.