Cops recover ₹2.1 L lost in cyber fraud

MUMBAI: Timely approach helped a 34-year-old from Dhobi Talao in South Mumbai recover ₹2.05 lakh she had lost to cyber fraud.

According to the police, they managed to get back the amount of ₹2.05 lakh of the complainant as she approached them in the ‘Golden Hour’ after the fraud had been committed.

The woman lost money while searching for a guest house in Gujarat online. She then lost larger amounts when she tried to lodge a complaint against the fraud with the Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum through another online number.

Azad Maidan police said that Padmini Nayal had approached them on October 29.

“While searching online she found a number of a guest house. When she contacted them, she was asked to send ₹1000. Despite the transaction, the ‘guesthouse’ claimed that they had not received the amount and asked her to transfer it again. After she had transferred around ₹7000, she realised something was wrong. The man on the other side was claiming he will return the money if he receives it,” am officer said.

Upon realising that she had been cheated, she decided to approach the Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum helpline.

The person posing as customer care executive asked her to download a remote assistance software to lodge her complaint after which she lost another ₹50,000 in four transactions.

“She realised that she was cheated again and approached us immediately. She rushed to her bank and filled a dispute form,” said Bhushan Belnekar, senior police inspector at Azad Maidan police station.

The police said the woman got a message that her entire money had been credited back within 48 hours of the incident.

“If somebody approaches police within three hours of the cheating it helps the cops to get back the money by writing to various agencies involved,” said Vikas Survase, assistant police inspector of Azad Maidan police station.