Chandigarh Woman Loses Rs 48,000 in Minutes: A Cautionary Tale of One Click, No OTP

In a deeply concerning incident that highlights the escalating sophistication of cybercrime, a 68-year-old former government employee from Chandigarh found herself stripped of Rs 48,000 in a mere three minutes. What makes her ordeal particularly alarming is that, unlike many victims, she never shared a One-Time Password (OTP) with anyone.

Her financial devastation stemmed from a single, unsuspecting click on a malicious link.

The harrowing sequence of events began on the morning of May 24, around 10:30 am. The victim received an SMS that appeared to be a standard electricity bill payment reminder. The message prompted her to click a link to settle an outstanding amount.

Believing it to be legitimate, she clicked the link, a seemingly innocuous action that swiftly opened the door to financial peril.

Within moments of clicking, her phone's screen reportedly went blank. Almost immediately, a series of notifications began to flood in, detailing multiple unauthorized transactions from her bank account.

Before she could fully comprehend what was happening, her life savings had been diminished by Rs 48,000, transferred in rapid succession.

This incident serves as a stark reminder that the tactics of cyber criminals are constantly evolving. Traditionally, scammers would rely on tricking victims into revealing OTPs to gain access to accounts.

However, this case demonstrates a dangerous new frontier where simply clicking a seemingly harmless link can compromise one's financial security, potentially by installing malware or granting remote access to banking applications.

Distraught and in shock, the woman promptly lodged a complaint with the Chandigarh cyber cell.

Following a thorough investigation, the police have registered an FIR under Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code, which deals with cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property, and Section 66D of the Information Technology Act, related to cheating by personation by using computer resource.

Efforts are now underway to trace the culprits behind this brazen act of digital theft.

Authorities continue to urge extreme caution when interacting with unsolicited messages or suspicious links, especially those related to utility payments or financial transactions. This case underscores the critical need for heightened awareness, as cybercriminals are perfecting methods that can bypass even the most common security protocols, leaving individuals vulnerable with just a single, ill-fated click.