Pune: Pune has reported a fresh spike in cyber fraud incidents, with scammers using increasingly deceptive tactics to target unsuspecting victims. In one of the most shocking cases, an elderly woman was duped of ₹5.54 lakh over a mere ₹5 online payment. In the past 24 hours alone, three separate cybercrime cases have surfaced in the city, with total losses exceeding ₹8 lakh, raising serious concerns over digital safety.
In the first incident, the elderly woman, who was suffering from sinus issues, searched online for a doctor’s consultation. During her search, she came across a mobile number listed for appointment booking. Unaware that the number had been planted by fraudsters, she contacted it to schedule a visit.
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₹5 payment opens door to full-scale fraud
The scammers convinced her that a nominal ₹5 payment was required to confirm the appointment. As soon as she transferred the amount, they gained technical control over her mobile number.
Within a short span, multiple transactions were carried out from her bank account, siphoning off ₹5.54 lakh. The fraud came to light only when family members noticed suspicious activity and found her phone number inactive. A complaint has since been filed, and an investigation is underway.
Online task scam targets young man
In another case, a young man from the Sinhagad Road area was lured into an “earn from home” scheme. Fraudsters initially assigned him small online tasks and falsely claimed to credit payments to his account, building trust.
Later, he was encouraged to invest money for higher returns. Believing the scheme to be genuine, he transferred ₹2.71 lakh in multiple transactions. When he attempted to withdraw the promised earnings, communication was cut off, revealing the scam.
Credit card update fraud hits young woman
In the third incident, a young woman from the Khadki area received a call from individuals posing as bank officials. They warned her that her credit card would be blocked if details were not updated immediately.
Under pressure, she shared her banking information, which the fraudsters used to withdraw ₹2.99 lakh from her account. She has filed a complaint, and the matter is under investigation.
Common pattern: trust, access, and exploitation
Across all three cases, a similar modus operandi was observed—fraudsters first gain the victim’s trust, then use small payments or sensitive information to access accounts, and finally execute large financial thefts.
Experts describe this as a classic case of “social engineering,” where criminals manipulate human behaviour rather than relying solely on technical hacking.
Negligence proving costly
These incidents highlight how even minor lapses—such as making a small payment, trusting an unknown job offer, or sharing banking details—can result in significant financial loss.
Cyber security warning
Renowned cyber crime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh said that modern cybercriminals increasingly exploit emotions and urgency rather than technical vulnerabilities. “Appointment bookings, job offers, and bank updates are just entry points used to gain trust,” he noted.
He advised the public to avoid clicking on unknown links, responding to suspicious calls, or making payments outside official platforms.
Vigilance remains the best defence
With cybercrime incidents rising steadily, citizens are urged to remain cautious and report suspicious activity immediately. Avoiding unknown transactions, verifying sources, and using only trusted platforms can significantly reduce risk.
The recent cases in Pune underline a growing reality—cyber fraud is evolving rapidly, and awareness remains the most effective tool to combat it.
