Elderly Resident in Mumbai Falls Victim to Sophisticated Scam, Loses Rs 7.53 Lakh

In the bustling city of Mumbai, specifically in the residential enclave of Ghatkopar, a senior citizen named Ajay Singh encountered a disconcerting ordeal when attempting to seek information about a phone order placed on Amazon. What initially seemed like a routine inquiry transformed into a financial nightmare, resulting in a loss of Rs 7.53 lakh.

Mr. Singh, a Ghatkopar local, sought to check the delivery status of a mobile phone he had ordered for his wife. To ascertain this, he turned to the vast realm of the internet and, upon searching for an Amazon customer service number, dialed the one he found on Google.

On the other end of the line, a voice claiming to be an Amazon delivery agent engaged with Mr. Singh. The conversation initially centered around the expected delivery date, with the imposter assuring Singh that the phone would arrive in a few days. An unsuspecting Singh, assuming he was interacting with a genuine Amazon representative, willingly agreed to cancel the order.

The fraudulent plot unfolded as the imposter, cleverly posing as an Amazon executive, requested Singh's Google Pay account details under the pretext of initiating an immediate refund. Once Singh disclosed this information, the imposter, employing a deceptive tactic, asserted that a technical glitch prevented the refund. Exploiting the situation further, Singh was coerced into divulging details of an additional bank account and two credit cards.

It wasn't until later that Singh, to his dismay, discovered a barrage of messages from his various bank accounts, indicating a substantial transfer amounting to Rs 7.53 lakh. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Singh promptly approached the Parksite police station to register a formal complaint against the unidentified perpetrators.

Law enforcement officials emphasize an emerging trend where fraudsters manipulate contact numbers on Google listings, ensnaring unsuspecting victims. Vigilance is urged, particularly when dealing with phone numbers obtained from Google, especially those linked to purported customer service, to avert falling prey to such sophisticated scams.