Noida Elderly Woman Duped of Lakhs in IGL PNG Bill Scam: Cyber Fraud Exposed

Post Views: 13

Woman Loses ₹21,26,835 to Cyber Scam

A 61-year-old woman in Greater Noida fell victim to a sophisticated cyber scam, losing ₹21,26,835 to fraudsters posing as employees of Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL).

The Scam Unfolds

The scammers exploited the woman’s fear of having her PNG gas connection disconnected, threatening to cut off the supply if an outstanding bill was not paid immediately.

The scam unfolded when the victim received a phone call from an individual claiming to be an IGL staff member. The caller informed her that her PNG gas bill was pending and that the connection would be severed unless payment was made promptly. The timing of the call coincided with reports of gas supply issues in the area, which added to the victim’s anxiety and made her more susceptible to the scam.

The Scammers’ Tactics

The scammer then sent the woman a fraudulent payment link, instructing her to settle the bill through it. Believing the call to be genuine, the victim clicked the link and entered sensitive details, including her bank account information and other credentials. Shortly after submitting the information, a series of unauthorized transactions began taking place from her bank account.

Within minutes, the scammers allegedly withdrew money from the victim’s account in 11 separate transactions, resulting in a total loss of ₹21,26,835. The funds were reportedly transferred to various accounts and used for credit card payments and other transactions.

Aftermath and Warning

The victim realized she had been defrauded after receiving multiple debit alerts on her phone and immediately reported the matter to the police and the national cybercrime portal.

“Authorities have warned citizens to exercise extreme caution when receiving unsolicited calls demanding urgent payments, especially those claiming to be from gas companies, banks, or government departments.”

Citizens are advised not to click on unknown payment links or share banking information over the phone, and to report suspicious activity to the national cybercrime helpline 1930.

Investigation and Vigilance

The police have initiated an investigation into the matter, and authorities have urged citizens to remain vigilant and report any similar incidents.

The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of being cautious when receiving unsolicited calls and the need to verify the authenticity of payment requests before taking any action.