Prayagraj Witnesses Rising Wave of Cyber Fraud: Two New Victims Duped of Over ₹1 Lakh
Cyber criminals continue to tighten their grip on Prayagraj, adopting new methods of deception to defraud unsuspecting citizens. In two separate incidents reported this week, a man from Jhalwa and a woman from Kareli became the latest victims of online fraud.
Together, they lost over ₹1.16 lakh to fraudsters operating with alarming sophistication.
Police have registered cases on the basis of both complaints and initiated investigations. Officers noted that cybercrime cases in Prayagraj have become a near-daily occurrence, highlighting the urgent need for awareness and vigilance among residents.
Case 1: Businessman Duped of ₹98,000
The first case involved Vipin Bihari Rai, a resident of Green Valley Colony, Jhalwa, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Airport police station.
Rai recounted that he had tried to contact the toll-free customer care number of a reputed cement company. The person answering the call introduced himself as Manish. Shortly afterward, Rai began receiving messages from the same individual on WhatsApp.
Through a series of deceptive interactions, Manish manipulated Rai and siphoned off a staggering ₹98,000 from his account. Realizing the fraud, Rai rushed to inform his bank and subsequently filed a formal complaint with the police.
Case 2: Woman Tricked into Transferring ₹18,038
The second victim, Kanchan Shukla, originally from Chitrakoot and currently residing in a rented room in Allapur, Kareli, received a call from an unknown number.
The caller, posing as a bank representative, alarmed her by claiming that a suspicious transaction was being made from her husband’s account. He urged her to check her phone messages, then insisted that ₹20,000 had been mistakenly credited to her account.
Believing his story, Kanchan was persuaded into transferring ₹18,038 to the account details provided by the fraudster. By the time she realized the deception, the money was gone. She immediately dialed the 1930 Cybercrime Helpline and complained.
With prompt assistance from the cybercrime police, a partial recovery of ₹2,038 was made, though the larger chunk remains unrecovered.
Cyber Crime in Prayagraj: An Alarming Trend
These incidents are part of a disturbing trend in Prayagraj, where cyber fraud has been spreading like wildfire. Police records reveal that cybercrime cases are reported almost daily in the district, ranging from OTP scams and fake KYC updates to online shopping frauds and impersonation on social media.
Just last month, several residents lost lakhs of rupees to fraudsters who impersonated bank officials and demanded sensitive details under the pretext of updating Aadhaar-linked accounts.
In another recent case, scammers tricked an elderly man by sending him a fake electricity bill payment link, leading to a direct transfer from his bank account.
Experts warn that cybercriminals are constantly upgrading their tactics, often using official-looking customer care numbers, WhatsApp messages, and scare tactics about bank transactions to trap victims.
Police Advisory
Authorities have once again urged citizens to:
- Avoid sharing personal banking details, OTPs, or Aadhaar numbers with unknown callers.
- Verify helpline numbers only from official company websites.
- Report suspicious activity immediately on the 1930 helpline or through the cybercrime.gov.in portal.
Deputy officials stressed that awareness is the most powerful shield against such crimes. They reminded citizens that banks or companies never ask for sensitive information over calls or messages.
With two more people falling victim this week, the tally of cyber fraud cases in Prayagraj continues to rise. While the police are stepping up their investigations and recovery efforts, the need for public awareness and digital caution has never been greater.
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