Actor Mohammad Iqbal, also known as Iqbal Azad, 59, recently became a victim of cyber fraud, losing Rs 77,000 while trying to book a doctor's appointment over the phone. The incident happened when Azad, in need of an orthopaedic doctor, searched for contact numbers on Google. On June 6, he called a number he found online, hoping to set up an appointment with a doctor in Dadar, Mumbai.
The person who answered the call asked Azad to register by paying a nominal fee of Rs 10 before he could speak to the doctor. The caller sent him a link twice, but the links were unresponsive, and Azad couldn’t complete the transaction. Suspecting something was off, Azad immediately alerted his bank manager to the potential scam.
Despite taking this precaution, Azad faced a significant loss on Monday morning. He received four SMS notifications on his mobile phone, indicating that a total of Rs 77,000 had been deducted from his bank account. The deductions occurred four days after he initially clicked on the fraudulent links.
In a state of distress, Azad tried to contact the cyber helpline at 1930 but was unable to get through. This added to his frustration and anxiety over the loss. Following the incident, the police registered an FIR against an unidentified person. The case has been filed under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, including Section 420 (cheating) and provisions of the Information Technology Act.
Azad's experience highlights the growing issue of cyber fraud, where individuals are targeted through seemingly innocuous activities such as booking appointments online. Even with immediate action and alerting his bank manager, Azad was not able to prevent the loss. This incident underscores the importance of being vigilant and cautious when dealing with unknown links and phone calls.
The authorities are trying to find the scammer and get the money back while the investigation is ongoing. There has been an increase in cyber fraud, with many people being victims of these schemes. Before completing any transactions, the general public is urged by the police to confirm the authenticity of phone numbers and links. It's critical to report any suspect immediately and ask for help from the authorities.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/ Susmita Bhandary/MSM)
