Beware of random fund transfers, police advise digital wallet users
The Hindu
Police say fraudsters first send a small sum through GPay, then follow it up with a message saying it was an error and then request their target to return the amount by clicking on a link
Complaints of new cyber frauds of payment transfers through payment applications have been reported in the last week across the State, say the police.
Director-General of Police C. Sylendra Babu appealed to the public to be more vigilant on the new frauds and to report to the police within 24 hours so that fraudulent money transfers can be stopped.
The usual modus operandi adopted is that fraudsters target Google Pay users. Randomly, an anonymous fraudster will send ₹500 to a Google Pay account. Even as the victim is taken by surprise, the fraudsters either call or send WhatsApp message saying the amount was transferred by mistake and ask the unsuspecting victim to return the money by clicking on what seems to be a link sent by the bank. Immediately after clicking the link, the fraudster will ask for the OTP and thereafter transfer money from the bank account.
Mr. Sylendra Babu said: “We have got a few complaints recently through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal and have registered six cases. Investigation is being undertaken on those complaints.”
Another cyber fraud is targeting the business community by enticing them to invest with a promise of high returns. The police said a group targeted businessmen after finding their profiles on portals and lure them to invest promising to double their investment in a short period.
An officer said the fraudster told the victims that he procures bark oil from Mumbai. The fraudster collected ₹20 lakh through online transfers for 20 litres. “After receiving the money online, they become incommunicado. They have cheated eight businessmen in Tiruppur,” he said.
In 2021, five women from Mayithara, four of them MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) workers, found a common ground in their desire to create a sustainable livelihood by growing vegetables. Rajamma M., Mary Varkey, Valsala L., Elisho S., and Praseeda Sumesh, aged between 70 and 39, pooled their savings, rented a piece of land and began their collective vegetable farming journey under the Deepam Krishi group.