Six Ahmedabad residents have allegedly been targeted in separate cyber fraud cases involving fake digital payment messages, gas-bill warnings, screen sharing, malicious APK files, stolen banking credentials, and an Instagram investment scheme. The cases involved losses ranging from thousands of rupees to ₹20 lakh, with fraudsters using entirely different methods to gain victims' trust or access their accounts.
A Fake Google Pay Message and a ₹55,000 Loss
Chandniben Patel, a resident of Thaltej, received a call from an unknown person who claimed her father had asked him to pay rent for a cricket ground in Hebatpur through her bank account. The caller allegedly sent her a message showing a ₹10,000 payment, making the transaction appear genuine. He later claimed he needed to send money to his brother in hospital, but couldn't make the payment from his own account, telling Chandniben he would transfer ₹90,000 to her.
Believing him, she transferred a total of ₹55,000. When the promised money never arrived and the caller stopped responding, she checked the transaction and discovered the earlier Google Pay payment message had allegedly been entirely fabricated.
A Fake Gas Bill Warning Costs a Victim ₹1.63 Lakh
Mayurbhai Shah, a resident of Ambawadi, received a message purportedly from Adani Gas claiming his bill hadn't been updated and that his gas connection would be disconnected at 9:30 pm. He called the number provided in the message and was allegedly told a payment link would be sent to clear the bill, during which interaction his debit card details were obtained. ₹1.63 lakh was subsequently siphoned from his bank account.
Screen Sharing and a Fake Refund Lead to Two More Cases
Dr Jignesh Nayak, a resident of Ranip, received a call from an unknown number while playing BGMI on his mobile phone. The caller allegedly praised his gaming skills, claimed his gaming ID was valuable, and offered to add points to his account. Jignesh was then asked to share his screen. After he did, his phone suddenly switched off, and when he turned it back on, he found the ID and password of his BGMI account had been changed.
In another case, Darshikaben Makwana, a nurse living in Thaltej, searched Google for a Blinkit helpline while seeking a refund for a product she hadn't received. She called a number that appeared in the search results and was allegedly sent an APK file by a person offering to process the refund. After the file was installed or used, ₹75,000 was withdrawn from her bank account without an OTP, according to her complaint.
Stolen Credentials Lead to a ₹4.70 Lakh Fraud
Sureshbhai Khatwani, a resident of Sargam Flats in the Satellite-Jodhpur area, reported that someone had obtained his bank-related information. The accused allegedly used his ID and password to carry out unauthorised transactions, resulting in a loss of ₹4.70 lakh.
An Instagram Investment Offer Costs a Victim ₹20 Lakh
Harshadbhai Patel, a resident of Akash Ganga Bungalows in Naroda, suffered the largest reported financial loss among the six cases. He came across an Instagram Reel offering investment returns and contacted the people behind it, who allegedly promised profits in US dollars through trading. Believing the offer, he transferred money on several occasions, and the alleged fraudsters eventually collected ₹20 lakh from him. The Cyber Crime Cell has started investigating this case.
Staying Safe: What These Cases Have in Common
Taken together, these six cases underline the need for greater caution while responding to unexpected calls, payment messages, and online offers. Users should avoid installing APK files received from unknown sources, sharing their screen or banking credentials with anyone, and calling customer-care numbers found through unverified search results. Utility payment warnings and investment offers should always be verified through official apps or websites, before any money is transferred, regardless of how urgent or convincing the request seems.
FAQs
Q1. How did the fake Google Pay message scam work?
The scammer sent a fabricated payment screenshot showing ₹10,000 already transferred, then convinced the victim to send ₹55,000 with a promise of a larger reimbursement that never arrived.
Q2. What led to the largest financial loss among these six cases?
Harshadbhai Patel lost ₹20 lakh after responding to an Instagram Reel promising investment returns in US dollars through trading, transferring money across several transactions before realising it was fraudulent.
Q3. What precautions can help prevent similar cyber frauds?
Experts advise avoiding APK files from unknown sources, never sharing your screen or banking credentials, verifying customer-care numbers only through official channels, and confirming utility bill warnings through official apps before making any payment.