Bengaluru, September 4: A 26-year-old IT professional from Bengaluru, Karnataka, became the target of a sophisticated scam orchestrated by cybercriminals posing as authorities from the Regional Transport Office (RTO) and the police in Mumbai. Monika Chouhan, a resident of Manyata Tech Park, was conned into transferring Rs 97,000 to the scammers before realising she had fallen victim to a well-crafted ruse. According to the Times of India reports, the ordeal began on August 26 when Monika received an automated phone call that claimed she had a traffic violation challan from the court.

The call provided her with options to connect to various authorities, and Monika pressed "1" to speak to the RTO. She was then connected to an individual claiming to be an officer from the RTO in Andheri, Mumbai. The imposter informed Monika that her vehicle had been involved in a hit-and-run case in Mumbai, prompting her to attend court proceedings in the city. Monika tried to clarify that she was based in Bengaluru and did not own a vehicle, nor had she recently visited Mumbai. Online Fraud in Bengaluru: Man Loses Rs 1 Lakh While Making Rs 5 Top-Up Recharge to Change DTH Plan.

Undeterred, the caller transferred her to another fake police officer to continue the charade. To lend authenticity to their deception, the scammers asked Monika to log into Skype to record her statement. They even sent her a fabricated ID card, further convincing her of their supposed authority. During the Skype call, Monika provided her Aadhaar card details. The fraudsters then escalated their threats, alleging that her bank accounts had been used for terror funding. Online Fraud in Indore: Woman Loses Rs 70,000 While Trying to Earn Money by Liking YouTube Videos.

Fearing legal consequences, Monika was coerced into transferring Rs 48,325 from one of her bank accounts to an account provided by the scammers. They assured her that the money would be returned after verifying the transaction. In a distressing turn of events, Monika was instructed to transfer an identical sum from another account. At this point, she confided in a friend about the fraudulent calls and money transfers. Fortunately, her friend recognised the scam and urged her to cease any further transactions.

By this time, Monika had already transferred Rs 96,650 from her two bank accounts. When the scammers insisted on another transfer from her third account, she wisely refused and terminated the call. Realising she had been victimised, Monika promptly reported the incident to the Sampigehalli police. Authorities have initiated an investigation under the Information Technology Act. Cybercrime experts are working to trace the perpetrators behind this elaborate and distressing scam.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 04, 2023 01:36 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).