HIGHLIGHTS

The incident took place on December 26 when the victim visited his local electricity department to apply for a name change on his power connection.

Afterward, he received a call from an unfamiliar number.

The caller, who claimed to be an employee of the power distribution company, informed the victim that his electricity bill was overdue by Rs 13.

In recent years, cyber scams have become a prevalent issue in India, with many individuals falling victim to increasingly cunning fraudsters. The latest unfortunate case involves a man from West Delhi who lost a staggering Rs 9 lakh in a scam centered around impersonating officials from the electricity department.

The sequence of events began on December 26 when the victim went to his local electricity office to submit a name-change application for his electricity connection. After he left the office, he received a phone call from a number he did not recognize. The caller introduced themselves as a representative from the power distribution company and alerted him about a supposedly unresolved electricity bill of just Rs 13.

For further details on another scam, you can read this related article: Bengaluru software engineer loses Rs 1.2cr in courier scam: Here’s what happened

Convinced by the caller’s claims, the victim promptly settled the alleged outstanding bill of Rs 13 online. However, this minor transaction was merely the tip of the iceberg in a more extensive scam. A short while later, the fraudster reconnected, instructing the victim to download an application from a link that was sent via a text message. Trusting the caller’s intentions, the victim assumed that this app would assist him with his name-change application. Unbeknownst to him, by installing the app and sharing his credentials, he had unwittingly granted the scammers remote access to his mobile device.

In the ensuing days, between December 29 and December 31, the fraudsters exploited this access to his device and executed numerous unauthorized transactions directly from his bank account, culminating in a loss of a total of Rs 9 lakh.

For another alarming case, please check: Mangaluru man loses Rs 58 lakh while trying to sell old coins online: How the scam unfolded

How to safeguard yourself from falling victim to these scams

• Verify the identity of the caller: If you receive a call from someone claiming to be from a government entity or company, it’s advisable to hang up and call the official number provided on their official website to confirm the information.
• Steer clear of unknown links: Avoid downloading applications or clicking on links sent by unsolicited contacts, especially those claiming to be related to official matters.
• Keep an eye on your bank accounts: Make it a habit to regularly review your bank statements and transaction history to identify any unauthorized actions.
• Alert authorities about suspicious calls: If you notice any suspicious calls, ensure to report them to the relevant authorities as soon as possible.