Cyber Crime
Ex-Chief Secretary Alok Ranjan Falls Victim to Massive Credit Card Fraud
Former Chief Secretary Alok Ranjan lost approximately $383 (INR 32,000) due to a credit card scam. The fraud occurred after Ranjan received a call from someone posing as an SBI representative. Despite his vigilance, the scammer convinced him to press a number that led to the fraudulent transaction. The incident has been reported to the police, and an investigation is underway.
Lucknow: In a shocking case of cyber fraud, former Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh Alok Ranjan fell victim to a credit card scam, resulting in a loss of approximately $383 (around INR 32,000). The incident came to light when Ranjan received a suspicious call from an individual claiming to be from the State Bank of India (SBI).
The fraudulent activity occurred in the afternoon. Ranjan received a call around 12 PM from someone who introduced themselves as an SBI representative. The caller informed Ranjan that his credit card had been used to make a transaction worth INR 1.5 lakh. The caller then instructed Ranjan to press a specific number on his phone to verify the transaction.
India Post Impersonation Scam: Resecurity Exposes Smishing Triad’s Tactics for Mass Data Theft
Sensing something was amiss, Ranjan reported that the number provided by the caller was incorrect. Despite this, the caller insisted and convinced Ranjan to press the number, leading to the fraudulent transaction.
Ranjan quickly realized the fraud and took immediate action by blocking his credit card. He reported the incident to the Hazratganj Kotwali police station, where the case is currently under investigation.
The former chief secretary shared that he received a transaction message from his bank indicating the withdrawal of $383 from his account. Upon verification, it was found that the transaction was made for an online purchase.
Inspector Deepak Pandey of Hazratganj Kotwali confirmed the investigation and stated that the cyber cell is actively tracking the case. The police have warned the public to be cautious of such fraudulent calls and to verify the identity of callers before sharing any personal information.
Ranjan emphasized the importance of awareness about such scams. He mentioned that despite his vigilance, the scammers managed to deceive him by using sophisticated tactics. He urged everyone to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity immediately.
Hajj Pilgrims Targeted by Scammers: Resecurity Exposes New Tactics and Precautions
Alok Ranjan, a retired IAS officer from the 1978 batch, served as the Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh from June 2014 to July 2016. He had an illustrious 38-year career in public service. He graduated from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi, and completed his MBA from IIM Ahmedabad. During his tenure, he held various significant positions, including serving as the District Collector of five districts and leading projects such as the Lucknow-Agra Expressway and the Lucknow Metro.
Post-retirement, Ranjan was appointed as the Chief Adviser to the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and the Chairman of the Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Corporation (UPSIDC). He has also authored books, including “Making a Difference: The IAS as a Career,” and remains actively involved in public speaking and writing on governance and ethics.
Follow The420.in on
Twitter (X), LinkedIn, and YouTube