A Wimberlygunj resident has reported a case of cyber fraud to the Andaman & Nicobar Police after being duped of ₹70,000 in an online scam linked to fake flight ticket cancellation assistance.
The complainant, Shahul Hameed, a Maulvi (Islamic cleric) residing at Lamba Pahad, Wimberlygunj, said fraudsters tricked him into downloading a malicious app and sharing sensitive banking details, which led to unauthorized debits from his State Bank of India account.
According to his written complaint, the ordeal began on May 30 when he mistakenly booked a flight ticket for the wrong date. While searching for ways to cancel the booking and claim a refund, Hameed came across a YouTube advertisement that directed him to contact numbers later linked to the fraud. Through calls and WhatsApp exchanges, he was persuaded to download an APK application supposedly meant for processing cancellations and refunds.
Trusting the instructions, Hameed entered his debit card details, UPI credentials, and UPI PIN into the app. By the next day, three unauthorized UPI transactions, ₹50,000, ₹10,000 and ₹10,000, were debited from his account. Despite not providing any OTP, the transfers went through. Realizing he had been duped, he lodged a complaint on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal and then approached the Cyber Crime Police Station in the islands.
Police officials confirmed receipt of the complaint and said an inquiry is underway. Sources in the department noted that the case reflects a rising pattern of cybercrime where fraudsters exploit urgent situations, such as refund requests, to lure victims into installing fake apps and disclosing confidential banking information.
Authorities have once again urged the public not to download third-party apps from unverified sources and stressed that neither banks nor airlines ever request UPI PINs or card details for cancellations or refunds.
The Cyber Crime Police are expected to register a formal FIR and trace the fraudulent numbers and digital trails linked to the scam. Officials acknowledged that such cases are difficult to crack given the use of masked numbers and encrypted channels, but said efforts are on to identify the culprits.
The incident adds to growing concerns over cyber fraud in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, where several residents have fallen prey to similar scams in recent years.
