Bhopal Scams: ₹8 Lakh Lost to Online Frauds

Cyber criminals have duped several Bhopal residents of more than ₹8 lakh in separate incidents involving fake loan offers, cloned credit cards, QR code fraud, and mobile hacking.

The incidents have been reported from various parts of the city, with the police registering cases against unidentified suspects and launching an investigation.

In one incident, Harshita Thakur, a resident of Bajaria, received a phone call from a person offering to arrange a loan. The fraudster allegedly convinced her to transfer nearly ₹29,000 in several instalments to different accounts on the pretext of processing the loan, which was never arranged.

In another case, businessman Hari Prakash of Piplani discovered that ₹3.94 lakh had been withdrawn from his bank account. During inquiries with the bank, he learnt that the transactions had been made overseas. Investigators suspect that his credit card may have been cloned during a foreign trip and later misused.

Bagsewania resident Rajesh Sarathe lost ₹2.98 lakh after an unknown caller claimed to be facing a medical emergency and requested money transfers through a QR code. Trusting the caller, Sarathe transferred the amount in multiple transactions before realising the fraud days later.

Meanwhile, Khajuri Sadak resident Suresh Mewada reported that his mobile phone had been hacked. After the device restarted, he received alerts showing that ₹98,000 had been withdrawn from his account in two transactions.

The police have advised residents to be cautious while dealing with online transactions and to verify the authenticity of the caller before transferring any money.

These incidents highlight the increasing risk of online scams and the need for residents to be vigilant while using digital payment methods.

The police are investigating the cases and are working to identify the suspects and recover the lost amount.

The incidents have caused concern among the residents, who are now being cautious while using online payment methods.

The police have also warned residents about the risks of using public Wi-Fi and accessing sensitive information on public networks.

In a separate incident, a gang known as the Chaddi-Baniyan Gang struck Bhopal's IPS School and fled with ₹3.92 lakh.

The incident has raised concerns about the security of educational institutions and the need for increased vigilance.

The police are investigating the incident and are working to identify the suspects.

The incidents have highlighted the need for increased awareness about online scams and the importance of being cautious while using digital payment methods.

The police have advised residents to report any suspicious transactions or activities to the authorities immediately.

The incidents have caused a sense of unease among the residents, who are now being more cautious while using online payment methods.

In conclusion, the online scams in Bhopal have resulted in a significant loss of money for the residents, and it is essential for them to be aware of the risks and take necessary precautions to avoid falling prey to such scams.

The police are working to prevent such incidents and are advising residents to be cautious while using online payment methods.

The incidents have highlighted the need for increased awareness and vigilance to prevent online scams and protect the residents from financial losses.