Thrissur City: A native of Jharkhand, identified as Ajimuddin Ansari (26) from Madagomunda Murali Pahari, was apprehended by the Thrissur City Cyber Crime Police for his involvement in a fraudulent scheme. The case involved the withdrawal of Rs.3.69 lakh from the bank account of a resident of Kunnamkulam, Kerala. The scam took place in February and revolved around a deceitful phone call made to the victim.
The victim, who had recently applied for a credit card, received a call from an individual claiming to be from a nationalized bank. The fraudster cleverly posed as a bank representative and exploited the victim’s trust. Since the victim had an ongoing credit card application, they did not suspect any foul play. Taking advantage of this situation, the scammer convinced the victim that in order to activate the credit card, they needed to install a mobile application on their phone.
Trusting the caller, the victim followed the instructions and unknowingly installed a malicious app on their mobile device. Unbeknownst to the victim, this app provided the fraudster with remote access to their phone, enabling them to gain control over various aspects of the device, including sensitive banking information.
Once the fraudulent app was installed, the scammer exploited their control over the victim’s device and proceeded to steal a total of Rs.3.21 lakh from the victim’s bank account. The theft occurred in seven separate transactions, with each transaction siphoning off a portion of the stolen funds. Additionally, an amount of Rs.48,000 was fraudulently charged to the victim’s credit card.
To conceal their tracks, the fraudster transferred the stolen funds to another bank account. However, the police were able to trace and identify the suspect by carefully examining the account information associated with the illicit transfers. Consequently, Ajimuddin Ansari was apprehended in Jharkhand, where he was caught red-handed with the bank account details used to perpetrate the crime.
This incident highlights the utilization of remote access applications by cybercriminals to carry out their fraudulent activities. These apps serve as a tool for stealing bank account information, as well as personal data, from unsuspecting individuals. It is crucial to exercise caution and refrain from clicking on links or downloading apps from unknown sources, as they may contain malicious software designed to compromise your devices and personal information.
Furthermore, it is essential to remain vigilant against phone calls that aim to extract personal and banking information through temptations and threats. It is important to note that banks will never contact you via phone to request sensitive information such as account details, credit/debit card information, OTPs (One-Time Passwords), PIN numbers, or CVVs (Card Verification Values). If you encounter such a situation, it is advisable to report the incident to the police immediately.
In case of any doubts or concerns regarding your bank account or credit card, it is best to directly contact your bank branch through official channels. This ensures that you are communicating with authorized bank representatives who can provide you with accurate and trustworthy information. By staying vigilant and taking necessary precautions, you can protect yourself from falling victim to such scams and safeguard your financial well-being.
