Bengaluru: In Bengaluru, a disturbing scam has surfaced, wherein fraudulent individuals are employing a deceitful tactic involving scratch cards, purportedly dispatched under the guise of renowned e-commerce platforms. This insidious ploy recently ensnared a 45-year-old woman residing in Annapoorneshwari Nagar, resulting in a staggering loss of Rs.18 lakh. The intricate scheme unfolded when the victim received a scratch card bearing the branding of Meesho, a reputable online marketplace, accompanied by detailed instructions and contact particulars.
Upon scratching the card, it deceitfully proclaimed that she had secured a windfall of Rs.15.51 lakh. Eager to claim her purported winnings, the woman promptly dialed the contact number provided in the accompanying letter, initiating a sequence of events that would lead to her financial ruin. The voice on the other end of the line, masquerading as an official representative, cunningly requested photographic evidence of the scratch card and the victim’s personal identification.
Seemingly legitimate assurances were provided, convincing the victim that she was obligated to remit 30% of the winnings as taxes, exploiting the prohibition of lottery ticket sales in Karnataka to justify the demand for payment. Over the course of several transactions spanning from February to May, the victim obediently transferred significant sums of money, totaling Rs.18 lakh, via Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS).
As the promised returns failed to materialize and communication ceased from the other end, the victim, faced with the grim reality of her situation, decided to seek recourse through legal channels. Consequently, a case was filed with law enforcement authorities under pertinent sections of the Information Technology (IT) Act, specifically sections 66C (pertaining to punishment for identity theft) and 66D (addressing punishment for cheating by personation utilizing computer resources), in conjunction with sections 419 (pertaining to punishment for cheating by personation) and 420 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which pertain to fraud.
This distressing incident serves as a stark reminder of the nefarious methods employed by cyber criminals to prey upon unsuspecting victims, exploiting their trust and financial vulnerability for personal gain. It also underscores the critical importance of vigilance and skepticism in the face of enticing yet dubious offers, particularly in the realm of online transactions, where anonymity often cloaks malicious intent.
