A shocking case of cyber fraud has surfaced in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, where a local businessman was tricked into losing his hard-earned money through a cleverly designed digital scam involving impersonation of electricity department officials.

Background of the Victim

The victim, Ashish Bhai Desai, a laminates trader residing in the Devendra Nagar area, had recently applied for a new electricity meter at the Daladal Sivi-Mowa electricity office. This routine application process became the starting point of a well-planned cyber trap.

How the Scam Was Initiated

A few days after the application, the businessman received a phone call from an unknown number. The caller introduced himself as an employee of the electricity department and claimed to assist in completing the meter installation process. To build trust, he instructed the victim to make a small online payment of just ₹13 as a procedural fee.

WhatsApp Link Trap

After the initial conversation, the victim was contacted again via WhatsApp. He was sent a link that appeared authentic and even displayed the logo of the electricity department. Believing it to be part of a government procedure, he clicked on the link without suspicion. This single action gave the attackers unauthorized access to his mobile device.

Unauthorized Access and Fund Transfer

Once the phone was compromised, the cybercriminals accessed banking applications linked to the device. They executed multiple transactions from two different bank accounts. A total of ₹6,03,472 was withdrawn from a Bank of Maharashtra account in six installments, while ₹99,000 was taken from an HDFC Bank account. Overall, ₹7,02,472 was siphoned off through eight separate transactions.

How the Fraud Was Discovered

The scam came to light when the victim began receiving continuous alerts of money deductions from his bank accounts. Realizing he had been cheated, he immediately approached the police and filed a complaint.

Police Action and Advisory

Police officials have registered a case and started an investigation to trace the culprits. Authorities have also issued a public warning, advising citizens not to trust unknown calls or click on suspicious links. They emphasized that government departments never demand payments or share official procedures through unsecured messaging links.