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I have read several reports in the GDN about scammers exploiting their victims’ trust and stealing their money.
I recall an incident that happened to an elderly friend in India a few weeks ago and thought of sharing it with readers so that people will become aware and save themselves from such scams.
My 70-year-old friend started using her mobile phone for online payments and banking just a year ago after her husband’s death. Initially she didn’t trust the systems and always preferred to pay by cash. But when shopkeepers and other government facilities started promoting online transactions, she reluctantly took to it. Everything was going well for a few months until one afternoon, she received a phone call from an unknown number. The caller spoke very politely and confidently. He said that he was calling from her bank and that there was a problem with her account.
The caller told her that her bank account might get blocked if she did not act quickly. The caller knew some basic details about her, which made her trust him. He then said that an OTP would come to her phone and asked her to share it so that the problem could be fixed.
As soon as she shared the OTP, the call was cut. Within a few minutes, she started receiving messages from the bank. When she checked her phone, she saw that more than ₹30,000 (BD130) had been taken from her account.
She was shocked and tried calling the number again, but it was switched off.
Later, she contacted the bank and explained everything. The bank staff told her clearly that no bank employee ever asks for OTP, PIN, or personal details over the phone. They also told her that once the money is transferred using OTP, it is very difficult to get it back.
This incident affected her mentally and emotionally. She became scared of using online banking after that. Her family was also very upset. A simple phone call changed her life for many days.
Scammers are becoming very smart. They create fear and pressure so that people act without thinking.
Banks must spread more awareness, especially among the elderly. Advertisements and messages can help prevent such crimes.
– S Ranganathan
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