A Chandigarh resident lost Rs 1.73 lakh after clicking a malicious WhatsApp link promising a credit card upgrade from a foreign firm, leading Cyber Crime Police to arrest three women from Delhi on December 26, 2025. Pratima Sharma, Roshni, and Juhi Sethi operated from Ashok Nagar and Uttam Nagar, using stolen customer data for impersonation frauds.
Final Call: FCRF Opens Last Registration Window for GRC and DPO Certifications
The Deceptive Upgrade Trap Unfolds
The Sector-45 victim received WhatsApp messages and calls from a woman posing as a credit card representative. Lured by promises of enhanced limits and conversion to a premium global card, he accessed a fake Google form link, granting scammers remote access to his phone and SBI credit card for unauthorized transactions totaling Rs 1,73,463.
This phishing tactic exploits trust in banking upgrades, a rising ploy amid surging cyber frauds—Chandigarh reported over 5,000 cases in 2025, with WhatsApp scams comprising 40%.
Massive Haul in Delhi Raid
Chandigarh’s Cyber Crime team, led by DSP A Venkatesh, traced via Call Data Records, IP logs, and KYC checks to Tilak Nagar, West Delhi. The raid yielded a massive cache:
- 28 mobile phones with victim databases
- 82 SIM cards, 55 ATM cards
- 2 Aadhaar and 2 PAN cards
- 8 dongles, 27 landline phones, wireless transmitters
- Passbooks, cheque books, notebooks
Phones linked to mule accounts routed fraud proceeds, revealing a syndicate targeting names, addresses, and numbers for calls mimicking banks.
Confessions and Ongoing Probe
Interrogation by SHO Inspector Iram Rizvi uncovered an additional associate’s role and forged document usage for accounts. Police aim to identify full network, quantify victims, and freeze tainted funds amid similar Delhi-based gangs.
This bust disrupts a hub exploiting urban-rural divides, with women often fronting voice modulation ops to evade profiling.
Safety Advisory for WhatsApp Users
DSP Venkatesh warned against suspicious links via WhatsApp/SMS/emails and sharing OTPs, CVVs, or details. Verify via official channels; report to 1930 helpline immediately. Training drives emphasize two-factor vigilance in Chandigarh’s cyber hotspots.
About the author – Rehan Khan is a law student and legal journalist with a keen interest in cybercrime, digital fraud, and emerging technology laws. He writes on the intersection of law, cybersecurity, and online safety, focusing on developments that impact individuals and institutions in India.
