Two residents of Kota in Udupi district have lost more than ₹3 lakh to cyber fraudsters in separate incidents. In one case, a caller posing as a gas service official collected debit card details through a ₹12 payment request and later siphoned money from multiple bank accounts. In the second case, an elderly man was cheated after responding to a YouTube investment advertisement. Police have registered cases under the Information Technology Act and begun an investigation.
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Thousands debited after ₹12 payment
The first victim, a 54-year-old man working in Mumbai, told police he received a call on February 8 asking him to pay ₹12 to Mumbai Mahanagar Gas to update the transfer of an LPG connection. He made the payment using his debit card. Subsequently, ₹45,000 was debited from his Union Bank account on February 11, followed by ₹58,900 from his Bank of Baroda account and ₹97,990 from his Karnataka Bank account on February 12.
Investigators suspect the fraudsters captured his card details or OTP during the small transaction and used them to withdraw money from multiple accounts.
Elderly man duped by YouTube investment ad
In the second complaint, a 73-year-old man said he saw an investment advertisement on YouTube and transferred ₹17,618 in the hope of earning returns. He later sent another ₹90,000 on November 28, 2025. When no returns were received, he realised he had been cheated and approached the police.
Cases under IT Act
Police have registered cases under Sections 66(c) (identity theft) and 66(D) (cheating by personation using computer resources) of the Information Technology Act. Bank transactions, call records and digital trails are being analysed to identify the accused.
Police advisory
Police have urged the public to:
- Be cautious of calls claiming to be from gas, electricity or banks
- Never share card details or OTP, even for small payments
- Avoid trusting investment advertisements on YouTube or social media
- Immediately report suspicious transactions to the bank and cyber helpline 1930
The investigation is ongoing, and technical evidence is being examined to trace the fraudsters.
About the author – Ayesha Aayat is a law student and contributor covering cybercrime, online frauds, and digital safety concerns. Her writing aims to raise awareness about evolving cyber threats and legal responses.
