The timely intervention of the police cyber cell saved a Perumbavoor-based priest from falling victim to an online fraud that almost cost him ₹40,000.
The incident took place on Tuesday when the priest, engaged in supplying medicines and equipment used in palliative care, was contacted by a person with a demand for oxygen cylinders. The priest gave him his bank account details for online transfer.
However, the person contacted him again stating that the online transfer could not be done and asked the priest to send a screenshot of a message he had received on his mobile. The unsuspecting priest shared the message, which, it emerged later, contained an OTP for a banking transaction using his debit card.
Shortly, the priest received an alert from the bank, notifying him of the transfer of ₹40,000 from his account to MobiKwik, a mobile wallet. Alarmed, the priest approached the Perumbavoor police who in turn directed him to the cyber cell.
“It was found that the fraudsters had managed to generate an OTP on securing the bank account details of the priest who inadvertently passed them on to them. We were able to contact the mobile wallet authorities and freeze the transaction. The money was transferred back to the priest’s bank account on Wednesday,” said a sleuth.
As per the preliminary probe, the plan was executed from Rajasthan.
