Ahmedabad Couple Loses ₹1.89 Lakh in Cyber Fraud Over Credit Card Reward Points

A couple from Amraiwadi in Ahmedabad lost ₹1.89 lakh after cyber fraudsters promised to convert their credit card reward points worth ₹9,500 into cash. The fraudsters posed as Axis Bank officials and sent a fake APK file through WhatsApp. After the file was installed, the husband’s phone was hacked and money was withdrawn from two credit cards.

Fake Bank Official Offers Cash for Reward Points

The incident took place on September 7 when Tusharkumar Patel, who works at a plastic company in Rakhial, received a call from an unknown number. The caller introduced himself as Karan from Axis Bank and told him that his good CIBIL score had earned him 12,598 credit card reward points. He claimed the points could be converted into ₹9,500 in cash.

The fraudster then sent a link through WhatsApp and asked Patel to download an Axis Bank application. Patel downloaded and installed the APK file on his OnePlus phone. Soon after the installation, the phone was hacked and another unknown number contacted him through WhatsApp.

₹1.89 Lakh Debited From Two Credit Cards

While Patel was speaking to the fraudster, messages showed that ₹80,000 and ₹60,000 had been debited from his wife’s Axis Bank credit card, taking the total to ₹1.40 lakh. When Patel questioned the caller, the fraudster told him that the money would be returned shortly and kept him engaged in conversation.

The fraudsters continued speaking to Patel even after the first transactions were made. They allegedly kept assuring him that the debited money would be credited back. During this time, another ₹49,998 was debited from his State Bank of India credit card.

The total amount lost by the couple reached ₹1,89,998. When Patel warned the caller that he would approach the police, the fraudster disconnected the call.

The couple first contacted the cybercrime helpline 1930 and later approached Ramol police. Police have registered a case and started an investigation into cyber fraud.