Delhi Police ASI Robbed Using PhonePe Cashback Scam: Scammers Caught After Extracting ₹2 Lakh

A new scam was discovered after a senior police official in the Delhi police force was robbed of more than ₹2 Lakh. The scammers lured the victim using the traditional baiting method but deployed a comparatively new tactic to extract money via digital routes.

Digital thieves posing as police officials or exploiting the "Request Money" feature in UPI apps are quite common. However, this time victim was a Delhi Police ASI, who was defrauded. Let's look at the details of this new type of scam.

Delhi Police ASI Falls Victim To Cashback Lure, Loses ₹2 Lakh

According to the PTI report, the Delhi Police official was tempted by scammers using the old "You've won cashback on transactions made using PhonePe." The police official, unaware of the scam and the scammers, revealed he has used PhonePe and made payments using the app.

Instead of using common scamming techniques, this time, the scammers asked the victim to download a different app that was not affiliated with PhonePe. This should have been a clear warning sign, but the victim obliged.

It is not clear which third-party app was downloaded but scammers gained unauthorized access to the victim's smartphone. Once compromised, the smartphone was used to execute transactions worth ₹2,12,000 from the official's bank account and credit card.

The money was transferred to a digital wallet belonging to the couple, which was linked to five different bank accounts. These details surfaced because the police officer took quick steps after realizing he was duped.

Quick Action Helped Delhi Police Official Recover Entire Scammed Amount

Realizing he was being scammed, the police official quickly filed an FIR. Thereafter the cybercrime unit of Delhi Police, in association with the victim's banks, took swift action.

The stolen amount has been reportedly returned to the Delhi Police official. Police also recovered chequebooks, ATM cards, and passbooks belonging to scammers. This evidence not only helped the investigation but may also help uncover similar crimes.

This scam once again highlights the potential dangers of smartphone apps. Delhi Police have cautioned smartphone users never to download any separate app for cashback or rewards. Such offers are usually provided within the main app, and moreover, the service providers usually send a notification for the same.

If any user falls victim and loses money, they should immediately, without any delay, approach their nearest police station and file an FIR. Additionally, victims must file a grievance report with the financial institution's helpdesk. This method is applicable to all digital financial transaction methods, apps, and instruments.