Bengaluru: A search for a customer service number ended in a financial loss of Rs 99,000 for a 59-year-old doctor in Bengaluru, after cybercriminals allegedly tricked her into installing a fraudulent application while she was seeking a refund for an autorickshaw booking.
The fraud came to light after the woman approached the police following an unauthorised transaction from her bank account. The incident reportedly took place on October 27 and involved an application called ‘Customer Support 24×7’.
The trouble began when the doctor noticed a discrepancy between the fare displayed for her auto ride and the amount charged through the taxi aggregator’s app. Looking to recover the difference, she attempted to reach the company’s customer service team but could not find its contact details within the application.
Her online search for assistance led her to a helpline number listed on a webpage. Although her call went unanswered, she was subsequently contacted on WhatsApp by an unidentified person posing as a company representative.
The individual allegedly presented the support application as a necessary tool for processing her refund. The doctor followed the instructions and installed the software, unaware that she was interacting with fraudsters.
Instead of receiving the promised refund, she discovered that Rs 99,000 had been withdrawn from her account through PhonePe.
The victim resides in Kacharakanahalli, within Bengaluru’s HRBR Layout. According to The Times of India, she reported the matter to the police after discovering the transaction.
The incident underscores the risks of relying on customer care numbers found through unverified internet searches. Fraudsters increasingly exploit refund requests and fake support services to lure people into downloading malicious applications that can facilitate financial theft.
