Online scams are increasing rapidly, and they affect not only ordinary people but also well-known individuals.
Two recent cases involved a 41-year-old TV actress from Mumbai and a 43-year-old homemaker from Khar (West).
Both victims suffered substantial financial losses.
These incidents highlight how scammers take advantage of people's desire for valuable gifts or rewards.
TV Actress's Misfortune
TV actress KA Khan, as reported by the Times of India, received an exciting message informing her that she had won a high-value phone worth Rs 1.4 lakhs, along with 999 other people.
Eager to claim her prize, she clicked on the link provided in the message.
Soon after, she received a call from someone pretending to be a customs officer.
To convince her further, the scammer even sent her a photo of the phone.
During their conversation, the scammer manipulated her into sharing the courier code she had received.
Initially, she was asked to pay Rs 4,000 as a tax payment. However, the demands did not stop there.
The scammer continued to pressure her and requested an additional Rs 12,000 to create an ID for the phone before delivery, as per the report from Times of India.
The actress grew suspicious as the so-called customs officer persistently asked for more money.
Realising she had fallen for a scam, she reported the incident to the Oshiwara Police, leading to the registration of a case against an unidentified individual.
Homemaker's Costly Mistake
As per the report from India Today, in a similar fashion, a homemaker from Khar (West) fell victim to a scam that promised her a luxurious mobile phone and other extravagant gifts.
The scammer convinced her that she was one of the lucky 1,000 individuals selected for this exclusive offer.
SA Patel, the person who was scammed, sent Rs 2,000 to a mobile number and got a token number as a response.
The scammer then told her that she had won a gold necklace, a gold ring, bangles, and cash as a gift.
However, to claim these prizes, she was asked to pay taxes.
To make the scam seem legitimate, the imposter posing as a customs officer sent her a note supposedly from the Prime Minister's office, as per the report from India Today.
Realising she had been deceived and fallen prey to a scam, SA Patel filed a complaint, providing a detailed account of the incident and the fraudulent tactics used against her.
Vigilance and Verification
- Exercise caution and scepticism when encountering messages or calls offering valuable gifts or rewards.
- Verify the authenticity of offers through independent channels before taking any action.
- Refrain from clicking on suspicious links or sharing personal information without thorough research and confirmation of legitimacy.
- Be cautious of requests for monetary transactions or sharing sensitive information.
- Stay informed and vigilant about the latest scam techniques and common warning signs.
- Use strong, unique passwords for online accounts and enable two-factor authentication whenever possible.
- Regularly update and maintain security software on devices.
- Report any suspicious or fraudulent incidents to the relevant authorities.