Cyber Crime on Rise in Patna: 15 Cases Reported, Fraudsters posed as Minister

Patna’s cyber police station is seeing a surge in online fraud cases, with a staggering Rs 31.42 lakh stolen from just 15 victims. Here’s a breakdown of some recent tactics employed by cybercriminals:

• Impersonation Scams:
  • Fake Officials: Scammers create fake Facebook profiles of prominent figures like Dr. Ashok Ram (ex-minister) and Surendra Jha (ex-DTO) to lure victims. They pose as CRPF officers needing to sell furniture and steal money.
  • Bank Officer Fraud: A cybercriminal impersonated a bank officer and convinced Inspector Vimlesh Kumar of Kotwali police station to click a link, resulting in a Rs 30,000 loss from his credit card.
• Phishing Scams:
  • Credit Card “Upgrade”: Manish Kumar of Jakkanpur was tricked by a fake RBL Bank officer claiming to activate health insurance on his card. Clicking a malicious link led to a Rs 1.13 lakh theft.
• Investment Scams:
  • Fake Online Profits: Mukul Kumar Jha, a doctor, was contacted on Telegram by a woman offering high returns on investments. He lost Rs 7.71 lakh after transferring funds.
• Work-from-Home Scams:
  • Fake Online Tasks: Abhishek of Nehru Nagar received a WhatsApp link promising money for completing online tasks. Initial payments built trust, but the promise of higher profits ultimately led to an Rs 8.13 lakh loss.
• Social Media Scams:
  • Dream 11 Group: Shashi Thakur of Bahadurpur was tricked into joining a fake Dream 11 group on Facebook promising a Rs 1 lakh reward. He lost Rs 92,750 in processing fees. Akash Sultania fell victim to the same scam, losing Rs 79,200.
• Electricity Bill Scams:
  • Smart Meter Verification: Harendra Singh of Vidyanagar received a call from a supposed electricity company officer. Clicking a link for verification led to a hacked phone and Rs 6.76 lakh stolen.
  • Fake Recharge Failure: Rambhajan Singh of Ruknpura was contacted by a fake SDO claiming a recharge failure. Sharing his ATM details resulted in a Rs 49,999 loss.
• Scareware Scams:
  • Fake Son Arrested: Suresh Kumar Tiwari received a call from a person claiming to be Inspector Ajay Sharma. They lied about his son’s arrest in a rape case, leading him to send Rs 1 lakh before realizing it was a scam.

Stay Safe Online:

• Be wary of unsolicited calls, messages, and social media contacts, especially those impersonating authority figures.
• Never click on suspicious links or share personal information like ATM details or OTPs.
• Verify information directly with banks, officials, or companies before taking any action.
• Report any suspected cybercrime to the authorities.

By staying vigilant and informed, we can combat these online threats and protect ourselves from falling victim to cybercrime.