Cyber fraud: Bhubaneswar woman loses Rs 4 lakh while recharging her mobile number

A woman in Bhubaneswar has allegedly been duped to the tune of Rs 4 lakh after falling into the trap of cyber fraudsters. The victim has been identified as Usharani Behera.

As per the allegation of Behera, she wrongly recharged some other person’s mobile number with Rs 349 while trying to recharge her own phone number. When she contacted the person and requested him to recharge for her, he denied it.

Finding no other option, Behera searched the customer care number of PhonePe on Google to seek assistance from the digital payment and financial service company over the matter. But unknowingly, she got the number of cyber fraudsters.

When she sought assistance on the number, she was duped to the tune of Rs 1 lakh. After losing the cash, she froze her bank account. After a month, she visited the bank and submitted an application to reactivate it again.

As soon as her bank account was reactivated, the cyber frauds looted Rs 3 lakh in phases, the victim alleged.

“I wrongly recharged some other person’s mobile number with Rs 349. Then I contacted and requested him to recharge my number. But, he denied it. Later, I searched for the PhonePe helpline number on Google. After calling the number found on the internet, they guided me assuring refund. But, instead Rs 1 lakh was debited from my account. I did not know that it was a fraud number,” Behera alleged.

No comments from the police could be obtained over the matter.