Indore, August 27: Searching for a hospital’s contact number on Google proved costly for a woman in Indore after she allegedly became the victim of a cyber fraud while trying to book a doctor’s appointment.
A person who claimed to be associated with the hospital’s appointment service first collected patient details and then sent her a link for confirmation. She was asked to make a payment of just ₹5 through the link and entered her debit card details. Around 30 minutes later, more than ₹1.20 lakh was withdrawn from her bank account through multiple transactions.
The incident was reported from the Pardeshipura police station area. According to police, Alka, wife of businessman Sumit Bansal, needed to book a doctor’s appointment at Lilavati Hospital on August 20. She searched for the hospital’s phone number on Google and called a number that appeared in the search results.
The person answering the call introduced himself as someone handling doctor appointments and offered to assist her with the booking process.
Fake Hospital Number Found Through Google Search
The alleged fraud began after the woman searched online for the hospital’s contact number.
The person who answered the call claimed to handle doctor appointments and offered to help arrange the consultation. After establishing contact, he collected information about the patient and continued the appointment process through a mobile link.
The incident highlights how fraudulent contact numbers can be used to impersonate hospitals, companies and other trusted institutions.
Fake Doctor Appointment Link Sent to Woman
The alleged scammer sent a link to the woman’s mobile phone under the name “Doctor Appointment File.”
After opening the link, she was asked to enter details related to the patient, including the doctor’s name, patient’s name, age and illness.
Once the information was submitted, the caller allegedly told her that the appointment would be confirmed after a payment of only ₹5.
₹5 Payment Request Leads to Debit Card Details
The woman entered her debit card details on the payment page to complete the ₹5 transaction. However, the payment did not go through.
She subsequently deleted the link from her phone.
Police are examining whether the fraudulent page was designed to collect card information rather than process the stated appointment payment.
₹1.20 Lakh Withdrawn Through Six Transactions
Around 30 minutes after the link was deleted, the woman began receiving repeated messages indicating that money was being deducted from her bank account.
According to police, more than ₹1.20 lakh was withdrawn through around six unauthorised transactions within a short period.
The rapid succession of transactions prompted the family to immediately contact the bank and block the debit card and related banking facilities.
They also attempted to contact the mobile number from which the alleged scammer had called, but the person did not answer.
Cybercrime Helpline Complaint Filed After Bank Fraud
The family subsequently reported the incident to the cybercrime helpline.
The case was later taken up by Pardeshipura police, who registered an FIR on Wednesday and began investigating the alleged online appointment fraud.
Police Trace Fake Number and Fraudulent Link
Investigators are examining the mobile number used by the alleged scammer and the technical details of the link sent to the victim.
Police are also trying to determine how the debit card information was used and identify the bank accounts into which the allegedly stolen money was transferred.
The investigation will focus on both the method used to obtain the victim’s financial information and the subsequent movement of the funds.
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Fake Google Contact Numbers Emerging as Cyber Fraud Risk
The incident has highlighted the risks associated with searching for contact numbers of hospitals and other institutions online.
Cybercriminals can allegedly exploit fraudulent or unauthorised contact numbers displayed through internet searches to establish contact with potential victims. Once trust is established, victims may be directed to fake websites, payment pages or links designed to collect personal and financial information.
People are advised to verify official phone numbers through an institution’s authorised website or another reliable source before making calls or sharing sensitive information.
Prof Triveni Singh Warns Against Fake Helpline Numbers
Renowned cybercrime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh said fake helpline numbers and fraudulent contact details have increasingly become tools for establishing trust with potential victims.
According to him, people should not blindly trust a number obtained through a Google search. Any link received for an appointment, payment or verification should be independently verified before it is opened or used.
He also stressed that debit card numbers, CVV details, PINs, OTPs and internet banking credentials should never be shared with unknown persons or entered on suspicious websites.
Even when a payment request involves a small amount such as ₹5, entering sensitive card information can expose the account to significant financial risk.
Police Trace Money Trail in ₹1.20 Lakh Fraud
Police are examining the mobile number, fraudulent link, banking transactions and other digital evidence collected during the investigation.
The money trail is also being traced to determine where the withdrawn funds were transferred and whether multiple accounts were used to move the money.
Investigators are expected to examine whether the same mobile number or fraudulent link was used to target other people and whether the alleged fraud is connected to a larger cybercrime network.
Further action will depend on the digital and financial evidence gathered during the investigation.
About the author — Ananya Aradhya writes on cybercrime, fraud, scams, cybersecurity, digital safety, and emerging threats. Her work also covers major criminal cases, financial frauds, consumer scams, and stories that highlight risks affecting people in the real and digital world.
