Hubballi-Dharwad Police Issues Alert: Beware of Cyber Impersonation Scam Targeting Innocent Individuals

Hubballi: In a recent development, the Hubballi-Dharwad Police have issued a warning about a sophisticated cyber fraud scheme targeting unsuspecting individuals. The scam involves a fake police impersonation tactic, leading to significant financial losses for victims.

The perpetrators initiate the scam with a phone call from a bogus parcel delivery company or an individual claiming to be a delivery person. The caller informs the victim that they have supposedly placed an online order and accurately provides the victim’s home address. Beware and do not entertain such calls if you receive them.

The fake delivery person asserts that the parcel is linked to the victim’s Aadhaar card, insinuating a potential data leak. Subsequently, the caller claims to have canceled the order on the victim’s behalf. This sets the stage for the second phase of the scam.

Shortly after, the victim receives a video or audio call from an unknown individual posing as a Mumbai Crime Branch DCP. The imposter alleges that the victim’s Aadhaar card details have been associated with a hawala racket, prompting the registration of a formal complaint and the issuance of an arrest warrant.

To add an air of authenticity to their deception, the fraudster’s number may even display as “Crime Branch DCP” on applications like True Caller. When the victim denies any involvement, the impersonator insists on verifying the bank details linked to Aadhaar, claiming it is a necessary step to resolve the issue.

If the victim complies and shares their bank details, the fraudster then requests the One-Time Password (OTP) received on the victim’s phone, purportedly for verification purposes. Once the scammer acquires the OTP, they abruptly end the call, leaving the victim in the dark about the fraudulent activity until it’s too late.

Law enforcement authorities emphasize the importance of immediate action if one receives such a call. Victims are urged to visit the nearest police station or the Cybercrime and Economic Offenses (CEN) police station. Additionally, reporting the incident to the helpline at 1930 is crucial to bringing these scams to the attention of the police.