Bengaluru: A 66-year-old senior citizen lost Rs 8 lakh to cybercrooks after falling for a fake offer of a private bank’s retired pension card that promised travel discounts, hospital bill assistance, and exclusive banking benefits.According to a complaint filed by the Ulsoor resident, he received a phone call around 9pm on June 29 from a man claiming to be a bank executive. The caller offered a pension card with benefits for senior citizens. Since the victim held an account with the same bank, he believed the offer was genuine.The fraudster then sent him a WhatsApp link and asked him to follow the instructions. The link opened a webpage resembling the bank’s official portal, where the complainant was prompted to enter personal details, including his name, bank account number, and date of birth. Trusting it to be authentic, he submitted the information.He later received a few more calls regarding the pension card application, which made him suspicious, prompting him to switch off his phone. The following morning, however, he discovered that Rs 8 lakh had been siphoned from his bank account through four unauthorised transactions.The victim immediately approached the bank, where officials confirmed the fraudulent debits. Acting on their advice, he lodged a complaint with the cyber helpline 1930 and later approached the cops. A case has been registered at East cybercrime police station under the Information Technology Act and Section 318 (cheating) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Investigation is underway.“We suspect the link clicked by the victim was an APK file resembling the bank’s genuine portal. Soon after he clicked it, the fraudsters gained access to his device, accessed his banking applications, and siphoned off the money. Efforts are on to freeze the amount from the fraudsters’ account,” a senior police officer said. Police also suspect that the victim’s bank account data may have been leaked, and are looking into the matter.BOXHow you can stay safe* Never click on links received through unsolicited calls, SMS, or WhatsApp messages claiming to be from banks* Banks never ask customers to install APK files or share confidential banking information through links sent over messaging apps* Verify offers directly by calling the bank’s official customer care number or visiting the nearest branch.* Do not share your account number, OTP, PIN, CVV, passwords, or internet banking credentials with anyone* Be cautious of APK files or websites that resemble genuine bank portals, as they may be designed to steal your data* If you suspect fraud, immediately block your bank account/cards, and call the cyber helpline 1930
