A shocking case of cyber fraud has surfaced in Uttar Pradesh’s Badaun district, where fraudsters allegedly duped a woman of nearly ₹9.70 lakh on the pretext of booking a doctor’s appointment online. What began as a request for a nominal ₹2 payment reportedly turned into a large-scale banking fraud within days. The family realized they had been cheated only after receiving repeated debit alerts from the bank. A complaint has now been registered with the cyber crime police station, and investigators are tracing the digital transaction trail.
According to the complaint, Ashwini Bhardwaj, a resident of Shahbazpur locality in Badaun, informed cyber police that his wife received a phone call on April 29 from an unidentified person claiming to be a representative arranging doctor appointments. The caller allegedly stated that only ₹2 was required as an online confirmation fee for the booking.
₹2 Fake Payment, 19 Unauthorized Transfers, ₹9.70 Lakh Gone
Believing it to be a routine process, the family attempted to make the payment. However, the transaction reportedly failed. The complainants stated that they never shared any OTP, bank PIN, or CVV details with anyone. Despite this, cyber criminals allegedly gained access to the woman’s Bank of Baroda account.
As per the complaint, between April 29 and May 2, a total of 19 unauthorized transactions were carried out from the account. Through these transactions, fraudsters allegedly siphoned off ₹9,70,769. The family became suspicious only after repeated deduction messages started appearing on the registered mobile number, following which they immediately contacted the bank and cyber helpline authorities.
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Phishing, Screen‑Sharing, and Medical‑Emergency‑Based Social Engineering
Preliminary investigation suggests that the fraudsters may have used phishing techniques, fake payment links, or screen-sharing methods to gain unauthorized access to banking credentials. Cyber experts say criminals are increasingly targeting people in the name of doctor appointments, hospital registrations, diagnostic test bookings, and healthcare services. Small-value payment requests are often used to trick victims into unknowingly granting access to their devices or banking systems.
Cyber crime police have registered a case and initiated an investigation into the transaction details. Authorities are tracing the beneficiary accounts where the money was transferred and examining the mobile numbers and digital payment channels allegedly used in the fraud.
Expert Warnings and Public Safety Measures
Cyber security experts have repeatedly warned people to remain cautious, as fraudsters are now using highly professional social engineering tactics to win victims’ trust. In many such cases, victims remain unaware that their device or banking access has already been compromised.
Renowned cyber crime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh said cyber criminals are increasingly exploiting psychological vulnerabilities through social engineering techniques. He noted that sensitive subjects such as medical emergencies, doctor consultations, and healthcare services are being used to pressure people into making quick online payments. He advised citizens to avoid clicking on unknown links, scanning suspicious QR codes, or accepting unsolicited screen-sharing requests.
Cyber authorities have urged people not to share banking details with unknown callers under any circumstances. In case of suspicious transactions, victims should immediately report the matter on the national cyber helpline number 1930. Complaints can also be filed through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. Officials said the first few hours after a cyber fraud are critical, and delays significantly reduce the chances of recovering the stolen money.
