A Gurugram-based businessman became the latest victim of cybercrime after losing ₹97,000 to a phishing scam disguised as a wedding invitation on WhatsApp. The incident highlights how fraudsters continue to use emotional or social triggers — such as wedding invites, festival greetings, or event messages — to target unsuspecting users.
According to the complaint filed at the Cyber Crime police station, the victim received a WhatsApp message from an unknown number on October 2. The message contained what appeared to be a digital wedding invitation card, along with a link that claimed to display the full invitation details. The businessman clicked on the link without suspecting foul play, which redirected him to a fake webpage designed to extract sensitive data from his phone.
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The Phishing Trap
Moments after clicking the link, the victim’s phone screen froze and restarted. Within minutes, he received a series of debit alerts from his bank, totaling ₹97,000. The cybercriminals had reportedly gained access to his device’s banking credentials, enabling unauthorized transactions.
Realizing that he had been duped, the businessman immediately contacted his bank to freeze his accounts and later approached the police. The Cyber Crime unit registered an FIR under sections of the IT Act and initiated an investigation to trace the digital trail of the attackers.
Police Advisory and Safety Measures
Police officials warned citizens against clicking on unknown links, even if they appear to come from familiar or socially relevant contexts like weddings, festivals, or corporate events. “Fraudsters are using social engineering to exploit trust and curiosity. People should verify unknown messages before engaging with them,” an officer said.
Authorities also advised the public to enable two-factor authentication, avoid downloading attachments from unknown sources, and keep their mobile operating systems updated. Cyber experts suggest that users check the sender’s number, URL authenticity, and use official app stores for downloading apps to reduce risks.
The incident serves as yet another reminder that in the digital age, even something as innocent as a wedding invitation can become a weapon in the hands of cybercriminals. Vigilance, not curiosity, remains the best defense.
