Stay Alert: Scammers Pose as Delhi Police to Steal Money via OTP Fraud

NEW DELHI: In a disconcerting turn of events, scammers have devised a new tactic to exploit unsuspecting individuals by impersonating Delhi police officials.

After a recent spate of fraudulent WhatsApp calls from international numbers, it appears scammers are now resorting to posing as law enforcement officers to trick people into sharing their one-time passwords (OTP) and swindle their hard-earned money.

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Sucharita Tyagi, a well-known film critic and Twitter user with the handle @Su4ita, shed light on her encounter with these scammers. She received an automated call that redirected her to a person named Rahul Singh, claiming to be a “sub-inspector” at Kirti Nagar police station in New Delhi.

The imposter, masquerading as a police officer, inquired if Tyagi had misplaced her Aadhaar card, PAN card, or ATM card. While Tyagi sensed something amiss from the start, it’s crucial to acknowledge the increasingly sophisticated techniques scammers employ to deceive smartphone users in India.

Tyagi revealed that the scammer then brought up an individual named Vipul Singh, who had apparently been apprehended for possessing stolen ATM cards.

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Shockingly, the imposter asserted that one of the cards bore Tyagi’s name. To further deceive her, the scammer probed for the last four digits of her card, likely intending to extract the CVV number and OTP subsequently. However, Tyagi’s astuteness prevailed, and she informed the caller that she would communicate directly with the Kirti Nagar police station.

In a concluding tweet, Tyagi emphasized that the automated call, combined with the caller’s proficiency in English, made the scam sound “very convincing.” While Tyagi had the presence of mind to recognize the fraudulent nature of the call, she expressed concern over vulnerable individuals such as senior citizens who may easily fall victim to such scams. The call originated from the mobile number 966819555, notably consisting of nine digits instead of the standard ten.

Moreover, other Twitter users reported similar experiences with these scam calls. One user with the handle @theMaharajaMac shared that his father had encountered a comparable call a few days prior. According to the tweet, the imposter initially asked for his father’s name and then inquired about his mobile number. Sensing something suspicious, the user’s father insisted on knowing the police station from which the call was made, leading to the immediate disconnection of the call.

Responding to these incidents, the Delhi police advised individuals to register complaints against such malicious calls on the Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. They also cautioned users against sharing personal information, particularly OTPs and card details, even with purported bank officials. Additionally, users are urged to exercise caution when confronted with suspicious web links received via email or WhatsApp from unfamiliar senders.

Key Highlights:

• Scammers in India have resorted to impersonating Delhi police officials to extract OTPs and steal money from unsuspecting victims.
• Film critic Sucharita Tyagi exposed the scam in a series of tweets, detailing her encounter with an imposter posing as a sub-inspector from Kirti Nagar police station.
• Other Twitter users shared similar experiences, highlighting the need for caution.
• Delhi police advised victims to register complaints on the Cyber Crime Reporting Portal and cautioned against sharing personal details or opening suspicious web links.
• It is crucial to remain vigilant and not disclose personal information or OTPs to unknown individuals, even if they claim to be bank officials.

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