Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 30 October 2023
In a shocking incident, a resident of Garacharma-1, Ward No. 19, has fallen prey to a cunning financial fraud scheme, losing a substantial sum of Rs. 27,000.
The woman who has filed a formal complaint with the Superintendent of Police, CID Unit Port Blair, has shared the details of a harrowing experience that took place on September 23, 2023. At 10:30 a.m. that day, she received an unexpected call from an unknown number. The caller claimed to be an LIC (Life Insurance Corporation) agent and conveyed that her father’s LIC premium had matured. He explained that her father’s Google Pay was not functioning and requested her to disclose her Google Pay account information.
With good intentions, she shared the required information, thinking she was assisting in a legitimate transaction. The caller then informed her that instead of the intended payment of Rs. 13,000, an accidental transaction of Rs. 40,000 had occurred and demanded a refund of the excess amount, which amounted to Rs. 27,000.
To further deceive her, she received two text messages, indicating that Rs. 40,000 had been credited to her account. Believing the messages and the call to be authentic, she promptly transferred Rs. 10,000 and then Rs. 17,000, totalling Rs. 27,000, to the provided phone number via her Google Pay.
It was only later that the woman discovered the deceitful nature of the transaction, realizing that she had fallen victim to a fraudulent scheme. As evidence, she has attached screenshots of her Google Pay transactions and the messages she received from the scammer, which she provided to the authorities.
Frustrated and determined to seek justice, the woman has called upon the law enforcement agencies to take swift action against the unknown fraudster responsible for her financial loss. This case serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance and caution when sharing personal financial information and conducting transactions online.