Ahmedabad Retired Man, 75, Loses ₹9.77 Lakh In Alleged Airbnb Booking Scam
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
A 75-year-old retired man from Ahmedabad has allegedly lost ₹9.77 lakh from two Bank of India accounts after fraudsters posing as Airbnb customer support representatives tricked him into downloading malicious mobile applications while he was trying to book accommodation in Nagpur for a Diwali holiday.
According to a complaint filed with the Cyber Cell of the Ahmedabad Crime Branch, the complainant, Nitin Kantilal Hathi, was attempting to upload a photograph of his PAN card to an Airbnb booking form when he encountered difficulties.
Fake Customer Support Contacted Him On WhatsApp
The complaint states that on October 19, Hathi contacted a mobile number he believed belonged to Airbnb customer support in Ahmedabad. The person allegedly contacted him through WhatsApp, made a video call and sent him an Android application package (APK) file.
Hathi allegedly downloaded the file and shared a photograph of his PAN card through WhatsApp. During subsequent communication, he received an email notification confirming a reservation at a townhouse in Nagpur. He took a screenshot of the booking confirmation and shared it with the person he believed was an Airbnb representative.
The complainant said he continued communicating with the individual through WhatsApp calls and messages throughout the day.
Second APK File Sent In The Name Of Pension Card Verification
During the exchanges, Hathi also received another APK file from an unidentified mobile number. The application was purportedly meant for online Bank of India pension card verification.
He allegedly downloaded the second file before deleting it from his phone.
The following day, October 20, Hathi received a bank notification informing him that ₹11,800 had been debited from his account. The notification showed an available balance of just ₹32.95, prompting him to suspect that he had been cheated.
17 Transactions Result In ₹9.77 Lakh Loss
Hathi contacted the bank and requested that both his accounts be blocked. During subsequent verification, he was allegedly informed that the email address registered with his bank accounts had been changed to an unfamiliar address.
An examination of transactions in the two accounts allegedly revealed 17 transactions carried out between October 19 and 20, resulting in a total loss of ₹9.77 lakh. According to the complaint, the transactions involved payments and transfers through multiple channels.
Hathi subsequently contacted the national cybercrime helpline on 1930 and registered a complaint.
Ahmedabad Crime Branch Cyber Cell Probes Fraud
The complainant has sought an investigation into the individuals who contacted him through WhatsApp, the bank accounts that received the money and others who may have been involved in the alleged fraud.
The Cyber Cell of the Ahmedabad Crime Branch has registered a case. The allegations are under investigation.
The incident highlights the risks of downloading APK files sent by unknown people, even when they claim to represent a recognised booking platform or bank. Users should verify customer support contact details through official channels and avoid installing applications shared through unsolicited messages.
