Ahmedabad: Misleading results in Google Search are causing increasing number of cyber-frauds these days. In one such recently emerged cyber fraud in Ahmedabad, total amount of Rs 244993 /- was debited from a person’s bank account after calling a fake customer care number of PhonePe application found from Google search.

A person named Shaileshbhai Dahyabhai Patel (46 years), a taxi- driver based in Ahmedabad had filed a complaint on 6th March, 2021 at Cyber Crime Police Station, Ahmedabad regarding a fraud of Rs. 2, 44, 993 /- happened with him on 4th October, 2020 while unknowingly calling fake customer care numbers of PhonePe application 7865049571 & 7261848474, which were found from Google search by his daughter (15 years) to ask for help regarding an unsuccessful phone recharge of Rs. 100/-.

The accused had initially asked to do a transaction of Rs 2/- and further managed to debit amount of Rs. 24,998 /-, Rs. 24,998 /-, Rs. 24,998 /-, Rs. 19,999 /- and Rs. 19,999 /- one by one from the victim’s bank account by instructing his daughter through fake number 7865049571, as per the FIR. Later, the accused instructed to download AnyDesk application in the device to get back the money and managed to debit an amount of 50,000 /- thrice from the victim’s account, according to FIR.

In another online fraud came to light in December, 2020, a person lost Rs. 80000 /- after calling a fake customer care number of DTDC Courier Company found via Google search. The scammers had asked the person to download TeamViewer QuickSupport application and do a transaction of Rs. 2/- initially. Later, amount of 40,000 /- was deducted twice from the victim’s account.

Similar kind of cyber frauds via fake customer care number found from Google search results have happened till now in addition to the two incidents mentioned above. The scammers often ask to download apps such as AnyDesk and TeamViewer Quicksupport which allow them to remotely access the victims’ devices and steal money from their accounts.