With cybercrime cases continuing to rise in Ahmedabad, three fresh incidents have come to light in which victims collectively lost more than Rs 31 lakh. In separate cases, an oil trader was cheated of Rs 20 lakh in a fake online oil-supply deal, an interior designer lost Rs 7.74 lakh after downloading an APK file allegedly sent for updating an Adani Gas bill, while a retired bank employee and his wife were defrauded of Rs 4.03 lakh in the name of KYC verification.
The victims approached the Cyber Crime Cell, the 1930 cybercrime helpline and the respective police stations after realising that fraudsters had gained digital access or used fake identities to carry out the transactions. Police have registered complaints and launched investigations to identify and trace the accused.
Ahmedabad oil trader loses Rs 20 lakh in fake online fuel deal
An oil trader from Ahmedabad was allegedly duped of Rs 20 lakh after cyber fraudsters posed as representatives of a fuel company and offered to supply more than 30,000 litres of distillate oil.
According to the complaint filed by Dharmik Sureshbhai Patel, a Ghatlodia resident who runs Shriji Petrochem Company in Narol, he received an order for distillate oil from a customer on May 28. While looking for a supplier online, Patel came across a company called ‘AARA FUELS’ on a business portal. He contacted the company regarding his requirement of around 30 to 35 tonnes of oil.
A person identifying himself as Srinivas reportedly told Patel that 30,230 litres of distillate oil worth Rs 33.25 lakh were available and sought an advance payment of Rs 10 lakh. Trusting the offer, Patel transferred Rs 20 lakh through two RTGS transactions. However, doubts arose later when documents provided by the seller, including the GST number and e-way bill, appeared suspicious. The trader subsequently realised that he had been duped and approached the Ahmedabad Crime Branch Cyber Cell.
Interior designer loses Rs 7.74 lakh through fake Adani Gas APK
In another case, a 58-year-old interior designer from Paldi allegedly lost Rs 7.74 lakh after cyber fraudsters impersonated officials of Adani Gas and sent him a malicious APK file.
The victim, Rikinbhai Mehta, reportedly received communication through WhatsApp carrying the Adani Gas logo. The fraudsters allegedly told him that his gas bill needed to be updated and warned that his connection would be disconnected at night if he failed to complete the process.
Under the pretext of updating the bill, the accused persuaded Mehta to download an application named “Adani Gas Bill Update.apk”. The fraudsters allegedly obtained access to sensitive banking details, including his bank account and debit card information and CVV. After the APK was installed, they reportedly gained access to his mobile phone and carried out four transactions, transferring more than Rs 7.73 lakh.
Mehta subsequently contacted the 1930 cybercrime helpline and lodged a complaint with the Ahmedabad Crime Branch Cyber Cell. Police have registered a case and are investigating the source of the APK file and the transactions.
Retired bank employee loses Rs 4.03 lakh in KYC scam
A 60-year-old retired Bank of India employee from Karnavatinagar was allegedly cheated of Rs 4.03 lakh after receiving a call from a person claiming to be from the bank’s head office.
The caller allegedly told Jagabhai Makwana that suspicious activity had been detected in his account and that KYC verification was required. The fraudster then sent a file to Makwana through WhatsApp and instructed him to install it as part of the verification process.
Soon after the file was opened, Rs 4.03 lakh was allegedly withdrawn from the bank accounts of Makwana and his wife. On discovering the unauthorised transactions, Makwana immediately contacted the bank and had the accounts blocked. He also approached the cybercrime helpline 1930 and filed a complaint with Anandnagar police. The police have begun an investigation into the case and efforts are underway to trace the accused.