Fake customer care call drains Rs 1.73 lakh from Mumbai security guard

Rs 1,73,695 saved over the past 24 months: Jaykaran Maurya worked at Parekh Market in Charni Road, earning around Rs 12,000 a month. With monthly household expenses going up to Rs 7000-Rs 8000, he saved whatever remained. In February, he spent around Rs 5 lakh on his daughter’s wedding, leaving Rs 1,73,695 as his only financial cushion after two years of saving. Illustrations/Uday Mohite

For 49-year-old security guard Jaykaran Maurya, Rs 1.73 lakh was more than a bank balance - it was a safety net built through 24 months of exhausting work. On August 8, Maurya searched online for a customer care number to return a faulty electric kettle and lost Rs 1,73,695.

Wanted to return faulty kettle: Maurya, who received a faulty kettle from a shopping app, searched online for customer care to return it after being made to wait for several days. He found two numbers and called one, believing it was genuine

"I ordered the kettle on July 16 and received it on July 24. When I switched it on, it gave a shock. I tried to return it through the shopping app, but they kept pushing it and the return wasn't made available till August 8.

Jaykaran Maurya. PICS/RITIKA GONDHALEKAR

So, I tried searching for a customer care number on Google and called one of the numbers I found," Maurya told mid-day. The DB Marg police have registered an FIR and are investigating the case.

Phone goes dark: The fraudster promised to help process the refund and guided Mayura through instructions involving his PhonePe PIN, mobile number, bank accounts and phone settings. He was also asked to change accessibility settings, with his phone getting switched off moments later

Police advisory

>> Do not download APK files or click on links from unknown sources
>> Use only official apps or websites for bill payments
>> Never share OTPs, bank details, or allow remote access to your device
>> Utility companies do not threaten immediate disconnection over minor dues
>> Victims can report cyber fraud by calling ‘1930' or lodging a complaint on the national cybercrime portal

Gone within minutes: Suspicious, Maurya rushed to a mobile phone repair shop, and as soon as his phone was fixed, he saw messages stating that Rs 1 lakh had been withdrawn from his Bank of Baroda account and Rs 73,695 from his Bank of India account

Cop Speak

A senior officer, DB Marg police station
‘The stolen money has been transferred to three accounts in three different states. One of them has been identified in Sikkim and sent a show cause notice. Once he appears and is found to be involved in the cybercrime, he will be arrested.

Maurya points to the number he called after a Google search

He was traced based on the bank account details. We suspect it's a three-member gang that operates from multiple locations. The other two are yet to be traced.'