Three residents of Pune have allegedly lost a total of Rs 6.34 lakh in separate cyber-fraud incidents involving WhatsApp messages, deceptive links and fake identities linked to a bank, a hospital and a pension-registration service, according to complaints registered with city police.
The cases were reported in Bibwewadi, Kothrud and Baner. Police said the alleged fraudsters used social engineering tactics to persuade victims to share sensitive information, install an Android application package (APK) file or click on links presented as part of routine services.
In Bibwewadi, a 57-year-old woman allegedly lost Rs 93,512 after an unknown person contacted her on WhatsApp while posing as a State Bank of India manager. According to her complaint, the person asked her to share her mobile-phone screen and then sent an APK file, instructing her to download and install it. After she followed the instructions, Rs 93,512 was withdrawn from her bank account.
The incident occurred on 10 September and a case was registered at Bibwewadi police station on 18 October. Police are investigating how the accused allegedly accessed the woman’s financial information and carried out the transactions. Senior police inspector Ashwini Satpute said the investigation was under way and urged residents to exercise caution before clicking on such links.
A separate case in Kothrud involved a 64-year-old woman who was allegedly defrauded of Rs 59,400 after searching online for a contact number to book an appointment at Ruby Hall Hospital. According to the complaint, she found a number that claimed to be associated with the hospital. The person using the number sent her a link and asked her to pay Rs 5 for account verification and to proceed with the appointment process.
Police suspect that the link led to an APK file. After the woman clicked on it, Rs 59,400 was allegedly withdrawn from her bank account. Kothrud police registered a case on 18 October against an unknown person and suspected bank-account holders under Sections 318(4) and 319(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 66(D) of the Information Technology Act.
Senior police inspector Arun Ghodke said investigators were working to identify the person who sent the link and trace the bank accounts through which the money was transferred. He said the incident showed how hospitals and other institutions could be misused to target people searching for contact details online. Police advised residents to verify institutional phone numbers through official websites.
In the third case, a 70-year-old resident of Pashan allegedly lost Rs 4.81 lakh after receiving a WhatsApp message promising assistance with pension-card registration. Police said Dilip Eknath Waikar received the message between 8 and 9 September and was directed to provide bank-account information through a link. After he entered the requested confidential details, Rs 4.81 lakh was allegedly debited from his account without his permission.
Baner police have registered a case and begun an investigation with the assistance of the cybercrime branch. Senior police inspector Chandrashekhar Sawant advised residents to verify whether online services and links were connected to official websites before sharing information.
Police have asked people who suffer online financial fraud to contact the national cybercrime helpline at 1930 immediately and file a complaint through www.cybercrime.gov.in. Prompt reporting can help investigating agencies trace or attempt to freeze transferred funds. Residents have also been advised not to install APK files received from unknown contacts, click suspicious links or share passwords, one-time passwords, bank details or other confidential information.
