A 75-year-old retired Army personnel in Indore allegedly lost ₹1.23 lakh after falling for a fake pension card advertisement on Facebook. The accused allegedly obtained his debit card details and OTP through a WhatsApp call and withdrew money in six transactions.

A 75-year-old retired Army personnel from Indore’s Pardeshipura area allegedly lost ₹1.23 lakh in an online fraud after responding to a fake Facebook advertisement for a pension card.According to police, the victim, identified as Shashikant Durape, saw an advertisement carrying the State Bank of India (SBI) logo and believed it to be genuine. After submitting an application, he allegedly received a WhatsApp call from a person claiming to help him get the pension card.A case has been registered and police have started an investigation into the cyber fraud.

Fake SBI logo used to gain trust

Shashikant told police that on September 5, he came across a Facebook advertisement related to a pension card while browsing social media.The advertisement displayed the SBI logo, due to which he believed it was an official service. After applying through the advertisement, he received a call from an unknown WhatsApp number.The caller reportedly asked for personal details, including information about his age and Army retirement background. The victim said the caller spoke for a long time, which made him trust the person.

OTP shared during conversation

Police said the accused allegedly convinced Shashikant to share his debit card details and OTP on the pretext of completing the pension card process.The caller reportedly assured him that the pension card would be delivered within a few days and could also be downloaded online.During the conversation, several SMS alerts reportedly arrived on his mobile phone, but the caller allegedly asked him to ignore them.

Money withdrawn in six transactions

Later, Shashikant received a call from a toll-free number informing him that payments were being made from his bank account.After checking his account details, he found that around ₹1.23 lakh had been withdrawn through six separate transactions.Following this, he approached the cyber helpline and registered a complaint.

Police begin investigation

The complaint was initially received by the cyber police and later transferred to Pardeshipura Police Station for investigation.Police have registered a case related to online fraud and are trying to identify the accused involved in the transaction.

Indore Police Bust Tata Salt Counterfeit Racket

Man packs cheap Siyaganj salt in branded pouches, sells locally; 1850 kg raw material seized in Aerodrome raid

Raid in Lok Nayak Nagar

Indore police arrested Jitendra Gupta on April 12 in Lok Nayak Nagar under Aerodrome police station limits. Officers caught him red-handed packing fake Tata salt. Sources indicated he sourced cheap loose salt from Siyaganj market and repackaged it in branded pouches for sale in nearby areas.

The operation ran for two months, fooling local buyers with precise mimicking of original packaging.

Seized Fake Packets Galore

Police raided the makeshift unit after a tip-off. They confiscated 840 packets of counterfeit Tata salt and 1850 kg of raw loose salt. Packing materials, including branded polythene and empty pouches, also fell into their hands.

Investigators recovered 980 empty packets, 32 gunny bags, weighing scales, packing and sewing machines, plus a digital balance.

Cheap Salt from Siyaganj

TI Tarun Singh Bhati confirmed Gupta procured open salt from Siyaganj market over the past two-three months. He filled it into Tata-branded pouches that looked identical to genuine ones. "The packaging was so accurate, consumers couldn't spot the difference," Bhati told reporters.

Gupta ran a calculated racket, buying low and selling high for quick profits.

Materials Sourced from Delhi

Probe revealed Gupta ordered branded cut-outs and polythene from Delhi suppliers. He set up a small factory in Lok Nayak Nagar to churn out fakes at scale. Police smashed the entire setup, halting operations instantly.

The seizure exposed a well-oiled supply chain feeding local markets.

Tata's Complaint Triggers Action

Tata Consumer Products Limited's technical expert lodged the FIR. This prompted Aerodrome police to swing into action four hours ago. "We acted on verified intelligence to protect public health," an officer said.

No prior complaints surfaced, but sources pointed to rising fake FMCG cases in Indore.

Health Risks for Consumers

Counterfeit salt poses serious threats, lacking iodisation and purity standards. Buyers in surrounding areas consumed substandard product unknowingly. Public health officials now monitor local sales to prevent wider spread.

Experts warn such rackets undermine trust in branded goods.

Legal Action Underway

Police booked Gupta under relevant IPC sections for cheating and trademark violation. He remains in custody as inquiries continue. Officials probe potential accomplices in Siyaganj and Delhi networks.

Further raids seem likely to dismantle the syndicate.

Future Crackdown Looms

Authorities plan stricter market checks in Indore's wholesale hubs like Siyaganj. Tata officials vow tougher vigilance on duplicates. This latest news today highlights risks in everyday buys, urging consumers to verify packs.