A woman from Atalasara village under the Harabhanga police limits in Boudh district fell prey to an online scam, losing Rs 12,120 to fraudsters using a classic fear-based tactic.
According to the complaint filed by Sujata Sahu, her son Suman Sahu was browsing on her mobile phone on the 24th of last month when they received a call from an unknown number. The caller, speaking in Hindi, began hurling verbal abuses and falsely accused the family of watching explicit videos online. Escalating the intimidation, the fraudster claimed that local police would soon raid their house and arrest them.
Panicked by the threats of immediate police action, the young boy and his family believed the caller’s deceptive claims. Capitalising on their fear, the scammer coerced them into sharing a One-Time Password (OTP). Moments after sharing the OTP, Rs 12,120 was debited from Sujata’s bank account.
Realising they had been scammed, Sujata immediately dialled the national cybercrime helpline number 1930 to lodge an official complaint. She has urged authorities to investigate the matter, bring the culprits to justice, and help recover her hard-earned money.
A Growing Warning for Citizens
This incident serves as a crucial wake-up call for the general public. Cybercriminals frequently impersonate law enforcement agencies, courts, or government officials to create panic and bypass logical thinking through fear.
Experts and local civic leaders have reiterated vital safety guidelines:
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Never share sensitive data: Do not share OTPs, ATM/Debit card details, PINs, passwords, or banking credentials over phone calls with strangers.
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Do not panic: Law enforcement agencies never demand money or make threatening arrest calls over mobile phones for viewing content.
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Report immediately: If you receive such threatening calls, hang up immediately. In case of financial fraud, dial 1930 or report online at cybercrime.gov.in without delay.
