What appeared to be a minor inconvenience turned into a serious financial fraud for Om Parkash, an Assistant Sub-Inspector with Chandigarh Police. While streaming Disney Hotstar, he received a pop-up message asking him to renew his subscription plan for Rs 149. Despite making the payment, the service failed to resume. Searching for help, Parkash dialed a customer care number listed on Google, unaware that he was contacting fraudsters posing as support agents.
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The Call That Cost Lakhs
The scamsters kept him engaged in a 37-minute phone call, during which they extracted his email ID, password, and access to his online banking. Soon after, the officer discovered that Rs 2 lakh and another Rs 1.9 lakh had been drained from his bank account. The fraudsters used the money to purchase gold online and make additional transfers, leaving Parkash stunned at the scale of the loss.
Police Investigation and Arrest
Following his complaint, a case was registered on April 27 under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. The Cyber Cell traced the transactions to an IndusInd Bank account in the name of Imran Ansari, a 25-year-old from Brahmapur, West Bengal. A raid led to his arrest. During interrogation, Ansari admitted that he had opened the account for another individual, providing his KYC details and ATM card in exchange for Rs 3,000. Police also recovered a OnePlus phone and SIM card, which are now under forensic examination.
Warning Against Digital Deception
Officials believe Ansari is only a link in a larger cybercrime network exploiting fake customer care numbers. “Always rely on official apps and websites for subscriptions or recharges. Never trust random Google search numbers,” cautioned DSP Cyber Cell A. Venkatesh. The case underscores how even law enforcement professionals can become targets in India’s growing wave of online scams.