A resident of Bishankhedi village was allegedly cheated of ₹99,000 after clicking on a fake “phone update” link that appeared on his mobile phone while he was at work. The money was withdrawn from his bank account within minutes, prompting a police complaint and a cyber fraud investigation.
Pop-Up Message Used To Mislead Victim
According to the complaint, Surendra Nagar, who works at a petrol pump in the Panwad area, was on duty when a pop-up message appeared on his mobile phone. The message showed a “phone update required” notification along with a countdown timer, making it appear like an official system alert.
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Believing it to be a routine software update, he clicked on the link. Shortly afterward, he received multiple SMS alerts showing that ₹99,000 had been debited from his bank account.
After realizing that he had been cheated, he informed his employer and contacted the cyber fraud helpline number 1930. He also took steps to freeze his bank account to prevent further losses.
Complaint Filed At Panwad Police Station
The victim later submitted a detailed complaint at the Panwad police station. In the complaint, he stated that most of the money in the account was linked to his workplace earnings and operational funds.
Police officials confirmed that a case has been registered and an investigation has been started. Investigators are trying to trace the source of the fraudulent link and identify the digital trail used in the transaction.
Authorities are also examining whether fake applications, phishing links or remote access tools were used to gain access to the victim’s mobile phone and banking details.
Police Warn Against Suspicious Links
Preliminary investigation suggests that fraudsters are increasingly using fake “update required” or “system upgrade” messages to deceive mobile users. Such links may allow attackers to install malware or gain remote access to a device.
Police have advised people not to click on unknown links received through SMS, WhatsApp or pop-up notifications. Officials said genuine mobile updates are provided through verified app stores or phone settings, not through random links with urgent warnings or countdown timers.
Authorities have urged citizens to report suspected cyber fraud immediately on helpline number 1930 or at the nearest police station. The case remains under investigation, with efforts underway to identify the accused and recover the stolen amount.
