Ahmedabad, 1 November, 2025: In a shocking case of digital fraud, a 26-year-old doctor from Maninagar lost nearly ₹1 lakh while trying to get a refund for a ₹464 face wash which turned an everyday online purchase into an expensive lesson on cyber safety.
The doctor, employed at a Maninagar based hospital, had ordered the skincare product through an online shopping app. Soon after, he received a call from a man posing as a company representative who claimed there had been a payment discrepancy and ₹464.17 had been credited instead of ₹464.50, a shortfall of just 33 paise.
To “fix” the issue, the caller requested the doctor to make the payment again and assured him that the previous amount would be refunded. The fraudster then sent several so-called “refund” and “debit-freeze” codes and asked the doctor to enter them in his payment app.
Trusting the caller, the doctor followed the instructions, only to later realize that ₹99,591 had been withdrawn from his bank account.
After realizing he had been scammed, the victim promptly reached out to the cybercrime helpline and filed a complaint at the Maninagar police station. Authorities have registered an FIR under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology (IT) Act, covering offences such as impersonation, identity theft, and cheating through electronic means.
(As advised by NPCI and Cybercrime Authorities)
Never forward any SMS to unknown persons, even if they claim to be from your bank or a government office.
Do not share debit or credit card details, OTPs, or UPI PINs with anyone. Legitimate representatives never ask for them.
Never post transactional details or screenshots about your grievances on social media. Such information can be misused.
Avoid doing transactions while talking on the phone with someone claiming to help you with banking or payment issues.
Cybercriminals often exploit trust and urgency. Always verify refund or payment claims through official apps, helplines, or websites listed on the brand’s verified page.
For help or complaints, visit cybercrime.gov.in - the official portal managed by the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C), Ministry of Home Affairs.
(Rh/VK/MSM)
