Kanpur Man Loses Lakhs in Sophisticated Online Scam by Cybercriminals

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Online Scam Alert: Kanpur Resident Loses ₹10 Lakh to Cybercriminals

A Kanpur resident has fallen victim to an online scam, losing nearly ₹10 lakh to cybercriminals who promised him a Customer Service Point (CSP) licence.

The Scam

The victim, Gyanendra Singh, received a call from a woman claiming to be Madhu Sharma, who offered to secure him a CSP licence, allowing him to operate as a banking service provider for financial transactions. Believing the offer, Singh began making payments via QR codes sent by the caller.

The accused directed Singh to transfer money through APS Payout and DMT Wallet services, initially receiving over ₹3 lakh in instalments. However, Singh was later persuaded to send additional sums, eventually losing ₹9.68 lakh.

Investigation Underway

After realizing he had been deceived, Singh reported the matter to the National Cybercrime Portal in January 2025 and lodged a complaint with local police. An investigation is currently underway, involving the tracking of digital evidence such as wallet transactions, QR payment trails, and communication logs to establish the identities and locations of the accused.

Warning from Law Enforcement

Law enforcement officials are warning residents to exercise caution when making payments for online licences, jobs, investments, or other opportunities promoted through unsolicited messages or calls. Legitimate licences are issued through formal government channels, not via social media or messaging platforms.

Experts stress that fraudsters often exploit the promise of official-sounding credentials and quick approvals to convince victims to transfer money.

Prevention is Key

To avoid falling prey to such scams, it is essential to verify credentials independently, consult official portals, and avoid rapid transfers to unknown recipients. In this case, the accused used the promise of a CSP licence to deceive the victim, highlighting the need for vigilance when dealing with unsolicited offers.

The investigation is ongoing, with police analysing linked bank accounts and devices to quickly identify the fraud network. As the threat of online scams continues to evolve, it is crucial for individuals to remain cautious and take steps to protect themselves from falling victim to such crimes.