Bengaluru: A 56-year-old man looking to get fancy mobile numbers from a well-known service provider was duped of Rs 54,000 after a person posing as a seller offered him premium numbers over WhatsApp and collected money along with his know-your-customer (KYC) details and OTPs.According to the complaint filed by Gautham (name changed), a resident of Vasanthnagar and a businessman, the fraud happened between Sept 6 and Sept 13.The fraudster contacted him, identifying himself as Sanjay, on Sept 6 and offered fancy mobile numbers and convinced the complainant to purchase 6363636363. After agreeing to the deal, the complainant transferred money towards the number and a postpaid deposit.The fraudster told Gautham that he had to share his ID proofs to activate the number. He complied and shared his Aadhaar card copy, email ID, alternate mobile number and OTPs received from the so-called service provider firm as part of the process.A SIM card was subsequently delivered through a courier. However, the SIM was not activated. Three days later, on Sept 9, the fraudster offered two more fancy numbers, 7777777777 and 5555555555, and induced the complainant to make additional payments. Two SIM cards were delivered through the same courier service, but neither was activated.In all, the victim paid Rs 54,000 through a digital payment application to QR codes shared on WhatsApp in the name of Sanjay Pancheshwar.The situation raised suspicion when the accused stopped responding to calls and messages from Sept 13. With neither the promised numbers activated nor the money returned, Gautham approached East Cyber Crime police, stating that he had been cheated and that his KYC information had been fraudulently collected.A case has been registered under the Information Technology Act and for cheating under the BNS, and further investigation is in progress.A senior officer said the fancy mobile number fraud is not new, but the cases are reported rarely in Bengaluru while such frauds are common in other states such as Delhi and Mumbai. The fraud is also known as vanity number fraud. The fraudsters target and exploit businessmen and other well-known personalities who are obsessed with fancy mobile numbers. The crooks set up fake WhatsApp groups, websites and social media posts to impersonate the telecom service providers.They convince the gullible victims to show interest in the numbers by their communication skills and convince them to make payments by quoting a price for each number, the officer added.InsetStay safe from fraud*Do not trust WhatsApp offers for fancy or premium mobile numbers unless they are verified through the telecom operator’s official channels.*Never share Aadhaar copies, OTPs or other KYC details with unknown callers or sellers.*Verify the seller and payment details before transferring money. Avoid making payments to personal UPI IDs or QR codes for purported company services.*Visit the operator’s official store if verification is required.*Be wary of multiple payment demands for deposits, activation, registration or other charges after an initial payment.*If you suspect fraud, immediately contact your bank/payment service provider and report the transaction through the cybercrime helpline 1930 or police.
