West Cyber police registered an FIR against an unidentified person on Sept 28 and are trying to trace the scammer who allegedly gained remote access to the homemaker’s mobile phone and deleted links, WhatsApp numbers, messages and transaction history.
Mumbai: A 79-year-old widow from Juhu lost Rs 11.7 lakh after ordering dry fruits worth Rs 248 through a link to a fake online shopping website, police said. West Cyber police registered an FIR against an unidentified person on Sept 28 and are trying to trace the scammer who allegedly gained remote access to the homemaker’s mobile phone and deleted links, WhatsApp numbers, messages and transaction history. The woman received the advertisement on WhatsApp on Sept 12. Believing it to be genuine, she ordered dry fruits and paid Rs 248 through the app provided. Her son has worked and lived in the US for 20 years.
The caller kept her engaged in conversation and gained access to her phone, a cyber police officer said. The woman told police that she depended on savings accumulated by her husband. When she received no confirmation, she called the customer care number in the advertisement. She was subsequently contacted through a WhatsApp call by a person claiming to represent the company. The scammer sent her a WhatsApp message showing a zero bank balance. When she became frightened, he claimed there was a technical problem and assured her that the money would be restored. He later sent another message showing that the balance had been credited again. Police have asked the bank to freeze the accounts that received the money.