Beware of Internet Banking Scam Calls: Man Loses ₹10.5 Lakh in Cyber Fraud—Learn from Santosh’s Story

A shocking case of cyber fraud has emerged from Lucknow, where a man was duped of ₹10.5 lakh under the pretext of activating internet banking. The scammers tricked him into sharing his banking details through a malicious link. The police are now investigating the matter. This is a serious reminder to avoid clicking on any suspicious or unknown links.

The Scam in Detail:

Santosh Kumar Dwivedi, a resident of Shalimar Grand Apartments on Jopling Road, Hazratganj, has a PNB bank account. He reported receiving a WhatsApp call on the morning of July 14. The caller claimed to help him activate internet banking and asked him to give a missed call on a mobile number that had a PNB logo as its WhatsApp display picture—making it appear legitimate.

How the Fraud Happened:

• At 10:30 AM, Santosh gave a missed call to the provided number.

• Around 4 PM, he received another call from the same fraudster who sent him a link via WhatsApp.

• He was asked to fill in all required banking and debit card details through that link.

• The scammer assured him that his internet banking would be activated within 24 hours.

• Soon after, ₹10.5 lakh was withdrawn from his account in four transactions.

Realizing he was duped, Santosh immediately blocked the number and filed a complaint on the Cyber Crime Portal. A formal complaint has also been registered at the cyber crime police station. The investigation is ongoing.

Don't Make the Same Mistakes – Stay Alert!

Here’s what you must do to protect yourself:

✅ Avoid Clicking Unknown Links
Never click on links received via WhatsApp, SMS, email, or social media unless you are absolutely sure of their authenticity—even if they appear to come from a known contact.

✅ Verify the URL
Before clicking, hover your cursor over the link to check its destination. Look for misspellings or odd characters—these are signs of fake websites.

✅ Look for Secure Connections
Always ensure that websites where you enter sensitive information start with “https://” and have a padlock icon in the URL bar.

✅ Use Antivirus and Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
Install reliable antivirus software and turn on 2FA wherever possible to add an extra layer of protection.

Remember:

Banks never ask for personal information such as your account number, debit/credit card number, OTP, PIN, password, or Aadhaar details over phone calls, SMS, or emails.

Fake Calls & Messages in the Name of Govt Schemes

Scammers are also misusing the names of government schemes like PM Kisan and fake e-challan links. Always verify such information on official websites like https://parivahan.gov.in and never make payments through unofficial links.

What to Do If You’re a Victim:

• Call the Cyber Crime Helpline: 1930

• File a complaint online at: https://cybercrime.gov.in

• Inform your bank immediately to freeze your account and stop further transactions.

Stay alert and protect your hard-earned money from cyber criminals.