A 71-year-old doctor from Indiranagar was duped into revealing his debit card details over a fake customer support line, resulting in a rapid loss of ₹5 lakh in multiple transactions. The case has been filed with East CEN Crime Police, who are investigating the fraudster’s identity and recovery of funds.

  • The fake customer care call prompted the doctor to share debit card details.
  • Seven transactions totaling ₹5 lakh were executed within minutes.
  • OTP alerts were received but could not be intercepted due to phone hijacking.

In Indiranagar, Bengaluru, a 71-year-old doctor lost ₹5 lakh after falling victim to a fake customer care scam while attempting to return a shirt purchased online. The incident occurred around 4:30 pm on Wednesday when the doctor searched for a customer support number on Google.

After two disconnected calls, a man identifying himself as Mahindra Pandit answered the third call and requested the doctor’s debit card information. Following the suspect’s instructions via WhatsApp, the doctor inadvertently handed over control of his mobile device. Within five minutes, seven transactions totaling ₹5 lakh were made from his account.

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Although the doctor received OTP alerts for each transaction, he was unable to intervene because the phone was allegedly under the fraudster’s control. The East CEN Crime Police have registered a case and are investigating to identify the accused and trace the transferred money.

Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that this incident highlights the growing risk of digital security for the elderly. Fake customer support calls, often appearing official, have become one of the most effective fraud techniques today.

"Such scams exploit the trust that older adults place in customer support channels, making them vulnerable to rapid financial loss," says cyber‑crime specialist Dr. R. Kumar.
Did You Know? In 2023, mobile‑based fraud in India caused losses exceeding ₹1.5 trillion for 1.2 million people.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How can older adults protect themselves from such scams? Verify any caller’s number against official websites before sharing personal or banking information. If in doubt, hang up immediately.

2. What steps should be taken after a fraud? Contact your bank right away to block the card and file a police report for the fraudulent transactions. Reset your phone and install security apps.