Retired UP banker loses 1.10 crore in cyber scam, shares safety tips
An elderly former bank employee from Aligarh has reported the depletion of his savings due to a cyber scam, bringing attention to tactics deployed by online fraudsters. At a police press briefing, he detailed the sequence of events behind the scam and outlined three practical steps for online security.
A retired banking professional from Aligarh has come forward about his loss to an elaborate cyber scam, citing a total depletion of 1.10 crore from his accounts. Addressing a briefing arranged by the police, victim Dinesh Sharma described the scam's progression and offered three practical recommendations for digital safety.
Dinesh Sharma, who retired from Punjab National Bank as deputy general manager, recounted that the scheme started on November 2 of last year, marked by a message from cybercriminals offering an implausible 30-40 percent return on investment. Recognising the offer as unfeasible, he noted that the cyber fraudsters sent a message promising to earn 30-40 percent profit, which he recognised as not possible and is a cyber scam.
Though initially wary, he found himself added to a WhatsApp group where participants circulated claims of considerable gains. As he described, the cyber fraudsters added him to a WhatsApp group, where many people were sharing their profits.
The narrative advanced as the fraudsters insisted he start with a modest deposit. At first, the accused pressured him to invest a small amount. He complied, transferring Rs 5,000, and was shown simulated high returns within an application.
Encouraged by the apparent accumulation of profits, his engagement deepened—culminating in the loss of his full retirement savings of Rs 1.10 crore. The fraudsters soon escalated their demands, requesting a further Rs 3 crore. He reported that he shared this matter with his family and told them that now they are asking for Rs 3 crore.
Disclosing the scam to his family for the first time triggered the realisation that he was caught in a digital fraud. The elderly victim said that this was the first time he told his family about it, and that is where he realized it was a cyber fraud.
He responded promptly—contacting the cybercrime unit and submitting a formal complaint. During the subsequent press conference, he shared his perspective and underscored several critical precautions. He shared his experience in the press conference and explained the three things to keep in mind for safety."
Summing up, the victim provided these three recommendations for the broader public: "I would like to tell three safety tips to common people. First, never hide anything from your family. Second, do not be tempted by attractive offers. Third, and most importantly, if you are a victim of cyber fraud, immediately approach the police cyber cell and file a complaint."
A retired banking professional from Aligarh has come forward about his loss to an elaborate cyber scam, citing a total depletion of 1.10 crore from his accounts. Addressing a briefing arranged by the police, victim Dinesh Sharma described the scam's progression and offered three practical recommendations for digital safety.
Dinesh Sharma, who retired from Punjab National Bank as deputy general manager, recounted that the scheme started on November 2 of last year, marked by a message from cybercriminals offering an implausible 30-40 percent return on investment. Recognising the offer as unfeasible, he noted that the cyber fraudsters sent a message promising to earn 30-40 percent profit, which he recognised as not possible and is a cyber scam.
Though initially wary, he found himself added to a WhatsApp group where participants circulated claims of considerable gains. As he described, the cyber fraudsters added him to a WhatsApp group, where many people were sharing their profits.
The narrative advanced as the fraudsters insisted he start with a modest deposit. At first, the accused pressured him to invest a small amount. He complied, transferring Rs 5,000, and was shown simulated high returns within an application.
Encouraged by the apparent accumulation of profits, his engagement deepened—culminating in the loss of his full retirement savings of Rs 1.10 crore. The fraudsters soon escalated their demands, requesting a further Rs 3 crore. He reported that he shared this matter with his family and told them that now they are asking for Rs 3 crore.
Disclosing the scam to his family for the first time triggered the realisation that he was caught in a digital fraud. The elderly victim said that this was the first time he told his family about it, and that is where he realized it was a cyber fraud.
He responded promptly—contacting the cybercrime unit and submitting a formal complaint. During the subsequent press conference, he shared his perspective and underscored several critical precautions. He shared his experience in the press conference and explained the three things to keep in mind for safety."
Summing up, the victim provided these three recommendations for the broader public: "I would like to tell three safety tips to common people. First, never hide anything from your family. Second, do not be tempted by attractive offers. Third, and most importantly, if you are a victim of cyber fraud, immediately approach the police cyber cell and file a complaint."