Google Search Scam: Policeman Loses Over Rs 3.9 Lakh to Fake Customer Care Fraud

Assistant Sub-Inspector Om Parkash of Chandigarh Police became a victim of a sophisticated online scam after encountering a fake subscription renewal pop-up while streaming Disney Hotstar. Following the prompt, he paid Rs 149 but the service didn’t resume. Seeking help, he called a customer care number found via Google, unknowingly connecting with fraudsters.

During a 37-minute call, the scammers extracted his email ID, password, and online banking details, resulting in over Rs 3.9 lakh being stolen from his accounts. The stolen funds were used to purchase gold and make further transfers.

Police investigation traced the transactions to an IndusInd Bank account held by Imran Ansari, who was arrested and confessed to acting as a middleman in the scam. Authorities warn users to avoid calling random customer care numbers from Google searches and to rely only on official apps and websites to prevent falling prey to such digital frauds.

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