Hyderabad cybercrime alert: Fake customer care, wallet frauds cost victims Rs 2 Lakh

Hyderabad: Hyderabad cybercrime police have sounded an alert after two fresh cases of online fraud left victims poorer by nearly Rs 2 lakh.

The scams involved fake customer care numbers and unauthorized wallet transactions.

Senior citizen falls prey to fake customer care

A 69-year-old Azampura resident was duped while seeking help for damaged items ordered from Blinkit. After searching online, he came across a fake customer care number.

Fraudsters posing as company executives contacted him on WhatsApp and tricked his family into downloading a malicious APK file.

The scamsters then accessed their devices and siphoned off Rs 4,193 from his wife’s account and Rs 98,001 from his daughter-in-law’s bank account, causing a total loss of Rs 1,02,194.

Chandrayangutta man loses wallet balance

In another case, a 37-year-old resident of Chandrayangutta lost Rs 1,11,740 through wallet hacking. The victim had added Rs 21.12 lakh to his wallet for purchasing gold coins.

Though the order was cancelled and the amount refunded, he later found that fraudsters had changed his registered mobile number and email ID.

Three unauthorized transactions were carried out from his balance, leading to the loss.

Police Advisory: Stay Alert, Stay Safe

Cybercrime police urged citizens to exercise caution while dealing with online transactions. Their key advisory includes:

Avoid trusting customer care numbers found on Google.

Do not download APK files shared on WhatsApp or Telegram.

Enable two-factor authentication on e-wallets.

Monitor bank and wallet activity regularly.

Never share login details or OTPs with anyone.

Officials stressed that vigilance and quick reporting are crucial to prevent further financial damage.