Mangaluru, Special Correspondent: A Karnataka-based doctor reportedly fell victim to a sophisticated cyber fraud, losing Rs 22 lakh after being lured with promises of a large monetary reward. The scam involved multiple perpetrators using social engineering tactics to manipulate the victim.
Initial Contact by Fraudsters
The fraud began when an individual claiming to be from abroad contacted the doctor, offering USD 25 lakh as appreciation for his work. The promise of a huge sum convinced the doctor to engage further with the callers.
Customs Duty Ruse
Soon after, another person, claiming to be a Customs Officer, informed the doctor that a parcel addressed to him had arrived and that customs duty had to be paid to release it. Over three days, the doctor visited a local Canara Bank branch and transferred funds to multiple accounts as instructed by the fraudsters.
Bank Alerts Authorities
Suspicious of the unusual transactions, a Canara Bank official alerted the Cyber Economic and Narcotic Crime (CEN) police to verify the payments. On Saturday, the CEN police confirmed that the doctor had been targeted in a cyber scam and had already lost Rs 22 lakh.
Victim Stops Further Losses
After being informed by the authorities, the doctor immediately stopped further transfers and filed a formal complaint against the perpetrators. Police credited the bank’s vigilance in preventing additional financial loss.
Nature of the Scam
Officials highlighted that such scams increasingly rely on social engineering rather than technical hacking. “This was not a system breach but deception,” a police officer noted. “The fraudsters created urgency to manipulate the victim into acting quickly, bypassing safeguards.”
Police Outreach to Banks
Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy said that authorities recently held meetings with bankers to monitor suspicious transactions and identify potential cyber fraud. The outreach helped prevent further losses in this case and is part of broader public safety measures.
Public Advised to Stay Alert
Police advised the public to enable transaction alerts, set daily transfer limits, and report any suspicious activity immediately. “Speed is critical,” said an official. “The faster a fraud is reported, the better the chances of limiting losses.”
