Victim receives WhatsApp link to apply for American Express card which he downloads; reports fake transactions via his credit cards
Representation Pic/Istock
A 55-year-old man from Ghatkopar lost Rs 7.34 lakh in a cyber fraud scam. Rajesh Joshi (name changed) had come across a Facebook advertisement offering an American Express credit card, and he almost fell for it — but stopped midway out of suspicion. A day later, however, the same scam returned in a more convincing form.
According to the Ghatkopar police, Joshi, who works with a private firm, was browsing Facebook on October 27 when he saw a flashy AmEx offer link. As he began filling out the form, he sensed something off and exited the page before submitting any details. The next day, he received a call from an unknown number with the caller introducing himself as an American Express Credit Card Department representative.
The man addressed Joshi by name, asked if he still wanted the card, and instructed him to keep his PAN, Aadhaar, and credit cards ready. Later, he sent a WhatsApp link, asking Joshi to verify his details and download an app — which turned out to be fake. Soon after, multiple unauthorised transactions began from Joshi’s three credit cards — all routed to gateways Mobikwik, Swiggy, and Facebook. By the time he realised what had happened, Rs 7.34 lakh had been debited.
Joshi immediately blocked his cards, called the cyber helpline, and approached the Ghatkopar police, who registered an FIR under Sections 318(4) and 319(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 66(D) of the Information Technology Act.
Modus operandi of scam
>> Fake Facebook ad mimicking AmEx
>> Caller posed as bank executive
>> WhatsApp link sent to install malicious app
>> Personal data used to hack phone and divert OTPs
>> Report immediately at 1930 — the National Cyber Crime Helpline — or visit cybercrime.gov.in
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