Cybercrime – Mumbai Resident Loses Rs 1.88 Lakh in Fake Tour Package Cancellation Fraud
Cybercrime – A 24-year-old resident of Mumbai’s Anushakti Nagar area allegedly lost Rs 1.88 lakh after falling victim to an online fraud carried out under the guise of canceling a travel package. Police have registered a case against an unidentified suspect and launched an investigation into the incident.
Initial Contact Through a Phone Call
According to information shared by police officials, the victim, Pratik Nair, who lives in the BARC residential colony in Trombay, received a phone call on May 15 from a woman claiming to represent a travel-related service. During the conversation, she asked whether he wished to renew a tour package that he had reportedly purchased the previous year.
When Nair declined the offer, the caller informed him that a cancellation process was required to officially terminate the package. She then sent a link and instructed him to complete certain formalities online.
Payment Made Through Shared Link
Believing the request to be genuine, Nair followed the instructions and used his credit card to make a payment of Rs 9,783 through the link provided. At that stage, he reportedly had no reason to suspect that the communication was part of a fraudulent scheme.
Investigators said the fraudsters appeared to have carefully planned their approach, gradually gaining the victim’s trust before attempting larger financial transactions.
Fraudsters Claimed Card Needed Blocking
Several days later, on May 23, Nair received another phone call from the same group. This time, the callers informed him that an unauthorized transaction had allegedly been processed from his account. They claimed immediate action was necessary and told him that his card would need to be blocked for security reasons.
Using this false explanation, the fraudsters managed to withdraw money in three separate transactions. Police records indicate that Rs 19,776 was deducted on each occasion, resulting in a total loss of Rs 59,328 during this phase of the scam.
Additional Losses During Follow-Up Calls
The fraud did not end there. On May 26, the scammers contacted Nair again and informed him that the cancellation procedure had not been completed successfully. They allegedly convinced him to make further transfers, assuring him that the payments were required to finalize the process.
Trusting the instructions, he continued making transactions, unaware that he was being deceived. By the end of the operation, the total amount lost had reportedly reached Rs 1.88 lakh.
Complaint Filed at Trombay Police Station
After returning home and discussing the matter with his brother, Nair realized that he had become the target of a sophisticated financial fraud. The family immediately approached Trombay Police Station and lodged a formal complaint.
Police have since registered a case against an unknown individual and are examining transaction records, call details, and digital evidence to identify those responsible.
Authorities Issue Public Warning
Law enforcement officials have advised citizens to exercise caution when receiving unexpected calls related to financial services, travel bookings, or account verification. They have also urged people not to click on links sent by unknown individuals and to verify any payment request directly with the concerned company before proceeding.
Officials emphasized that cybercriminals often use convincing stories and urgent requests to pressure victims into sharing financial information or transferring money. Public awareness, they said, remains one of the strongest defenses against such scams.