An 81-year-old retired man from Ribandar, Goa, was allegedly duped of ₹6.05 lakh after a fraudster posing as a Bank of India representative lured him with promises of discounts on medical expenses.
According to the complaint, the unidentified caller claimed that the elderly man could avail himself of 20–30% discounts at medical stores and private hospitals. The offer allegedly convinced him that the caller was contacting him on behalf of the bank.
The fraudster then reportedly sent a form to the victim via WhatsApp and persuaded him to provide his bank details and other sensitive credentials.
The information was allegedly misused to carry out unauthorised transactions from his bank account, resulting in a total loss of ₹6.05 lakh.
The incident highlights how cybercriminals are increasingly exploiting the names of trusted institutions and attractive offers to gain access to victims’ financial information. Senior citizens can be especially vulnerable when such scams are presented as benefits linked to healthcare or banking services.
How The Scam Worked
- Fake bank representative: The fraudster allegedly claimed to be from Bank of India.
- Discount bait: The victim was offered 20–30% discounts on medical expenses.
- WhatsApp form: A form was sent to collect his personal and banking information.
- Credential theft: The victim allegedly shared sensitive bank details.
- Financial loss: The information was allegedly used for unauthorised transactions worth ₹6.05 lakh.
Stay Safe
Never share your OTP, PIN, password, CVV or banking credentials with anyone claiming to offer discounts or benefits. Banks generally do not ask customers to disclose such confidential information over unsolicited calls or WhatsApp.
If you receive a suspicious call claiming to be from your bank, verify it directly through the bank’s official customer-care channels before sharing any information.
