Technical News Office – India is currently going through a phase of digital transformation. From ordering groceries to updating important documents like Aadhaar and PAN card, every service is now available online. However, with the increasing dependence on the digital space, online scams have also increased significantly. Scammers are finding new ways to use this online space to scam people doing their jobs. One such recent case came to light in Kanpur, where a man tried to apply for a PAN card online for his great-grandson and lost Rs 7.7 lakh. Tell us what the problem is…
What is it about?
The fraud took place when the victim, Suresh Chandra Sharma, resident of Navsheel Moti Vihar, Sarvodaya Nagar, was searching online for a PAN card for his great-grandson Kanishk Pandey. While searching for help online on November 10, Sharma came across a helpline number. As soon as he dialed the number, he was contacted by two people. Both people identified themselves as customer service agents. They told the victim that they had to follow a certain procedure to apply for a PAN card, after which the scammers asked for the victim’s Aadhaar card, PAN card and bank account details.
money deducted twice
The victim accepted it as genuine and shared all the information. Fraudsters then use this information to gain access to victims’ bank accounts. In the end, he lost Rs 1,40,071 and Rs 6,30,071 in this fraudulent transaction, making a total loss of Rs 7.7 lakh. It was only after seeing the debits in his accounts that the old man realized the fraud. After discovering the scam, the victim immediately filed a complaint with his bank and the police to stop all activity.
Keep these 4 things in mind
Always check the authenticity of the website or customer service numbers. Use the official government portal like NSDL or UTIITSL for PAN card related services.
Do not share information such as Aadhaar or PAN card details and banking credentials with unverified people or platforms.
Be wary of calls or messages claiming to be from customer support.
If in doubt, report it to the police or the cybercrime reporting portal cybercrime.gov.in.
Share this story
