A police constable from Pune lost Rs 2.3 lakh in a cyber-scam involving a QR code. The incident unfolded when the constable, who lives in Saswad, Pune, attempted to pay his bill at a bakery by scanning a QR code. Soon after, he noticed an unauthorized debit of Rs 18,755 from his savings account. Alarmed, he checked his other accounts and discovered more fraudulent transactions, including Rs 12,250 debited from his salary account, which was left with only Rs 50.
“Police Constable Loses Rs 2.3 Lakh in QR Code Scam, Quickly Prevents Further Losses”
The situation took a turn for the worse when the constable received an OTP notification for a Rs 1.9 lakh transaction from his gold loan account, which was processed despite him not sharing the OTP. Additionally, the fraudsters attempted two transactions of Rs 14,000 using his credit card details. Acting quickly, the constable froze his bank accounts and credit card, successfully preventing further losses.
The police investigation found that the fraudsters likely accessed the constable’s phone and bank accounts through a malicious APK file. It is suspected that he unknowingly clicked on a harmful link sent by the scammers, which led to malware being installed on his device. This allowed the criminals to capture sensitive information, such as login credentials and OTPs.
“Investigation Underway in QR Code Scam; Tips to Stay Safe with Digital Payments”
The police are looking into whether the QR code was manipulated to prompt the download of the APK or if other methods were used. As digital payments become more common, it is vital to stay vigilant. To protect yourself, verify QR codes before scanning, avoid clicking on suspicious links, and use only official apps for transactions. While digital payments offer convenience, safeguarding personal information is crucial to avoid falling victim to such scams.
