Delhi Policeman Duped in PhonePe cashback scam, loses 2 lakh

Online scams are a serious problem in \India, leading to financial losses and mental distress for victims.

Recently, there has been an increase in cyber scammers who use new strategies to trick people.

Tactics of Scammers

Scammers are always finding new ways to deceive people, and one common scam involves work-from-home offers that promise easy money for simple tasks like liking videos or rating movies.

However, scammers have become more sophisticated, as seen in a recent case reported by PTI, where a police officer was tricked and lost Rs 2 lakh.

The fraudster pretended to offer a cashback reward from PhonePe and convinced the officer to download a fake app, which allowed the scammer to take control of the officer's smartphone.

The Officer's Harrowing Experience

In a recent incident reported by PTI, Assistant Sub-Inspector Vinod Tyagi, who works in the East district, received a call from an unfamiliar number.

The caller informed him that he had won a cashback reward from a PhonePe transaction and instructed him to download a particular app to claim it.

When the ASI downloaded the app, the fraudster gained full control over his smartphone.

The scammer then proceeded to carry out multiple transactions, stealing a total of Rs 2,12,000 from the officer's bank account and credit card.

After filing a First Information Report (FIR), the police acted promptly and initiated an investigation to locate the scammers.

With diligent work, they successfully identified and apprehended four individuals connected to the scam.

The police managed to recover the entire amount that was stolen and seized evidence like cheque books, ATM cards, and passbooks.

To safeguard yourself from online scams, it is crucial to be cautious and take preventive measures.

Here are some valuable tips to protect yourself from becoming a victim.

1. Avoid sharing personal or financial information with unknown or suspicious sources via phone calls or messages.
2. Verify the authenticity of websites or platforms before providing any information online.
3. Create strong and unique passwords for your online accounts, avoiding easily guessable or common choices.
4. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) whenever possible to enhance security. Use features like fingerprint locks on UPI apps to restrict unauthorized access.
5. Keep your devices updated with the latest security patches and software updates. Install reputable antivirus and anti-malware software to guard against malicious threats.