Darjeeling Police recover online fraud cash

SNS, Darjeeling, 3 March 2023 : Darjeeling Police has recovered a sum of Rs 53,400 of a person, who had lost the amount in online fraud. Police sources said the call that asked him to download a mobile App named 'customer support' immediately after the person searched for a customer care number on his Internet browser. 

The sources said a resident of Ward 8 in Darjeeling, Gagan Chhetri, had searched for the customer cam number of a private telecom service provider on Google, a search engine on 1.3 December, last year. Immediately after that, Mr Chhetri is said to have received a call from a person who asked him to download the App on his mobile phone. 

"He had received a Whats App message with an App link named Customer Support. He installed the App and he gave the username and passwords. He, however, later came to know that it was a fraud. 

Mr Chhetri came to know that Rs 80,000 was debited from his account following the installation of the App and later it was also learnt that his mobile number was linked to an Amazon account and digital gold was purchased using his bank account," a police officer said. 

The cyber crime police station had started investigations following the complaint. 

"During investigations, several letters were sent to Amazon about refunding the amount and Rs 53,400 had been refunded to the complainant's bank account. The amount has been credited to his bank account in February," the officer added. 

Meanwhile, the police have started widespread campaign on cyber fraud in the district, including at the Sukna Military Station. 

"Cyber fraudsters are increasingly finding new and innovative ways to dupe people .The main motive behind conducting such programmes is to spread awareness regarding various cyber frauds among the people. We have appealed to the jawans to remain extra alert and be cautious about the risk associated with digital transactions," an officer said. 

According to cyber experts, people who were not habituated with online functions remained most vulnerable and many of them fell prey to online frauds by responding to fraudulent calls and clicking on spy-links sent to their phones.