A resident of Chandigarh, T Rajesh Kumar, lost nearly Rs 9 lakh in December 2024 due to an online fraud while attempting to apply for a new credit card. The scam began when he received a call from a person claiming to be a Punjab National Bank (PNB) representative, offering assistance with a new credit card application. The fraudster, who identified himself as “Ajay Tripathi,” tricked Rajesh into sharing his personal information and even showing his credit cards during a video call. After the call, the scammer initiated unauthorized transactions on his credit cards, draining a significant amount of money.
Rajesh reported the incident to the Chandigarh Cyber Cell, which launched an investigation. Unfortunately, the scammers managed to hack his Amazon account but were unable to cause further financial harm.
The incident highlights the need for individuals to be cautious when dealing with online transactions. Experts recommend several precautions to protect against credit card scams, including:
* Verifying the identity of anyone claiming to be from the bank before proceeding with any application
* Never sharing credit card details, CVV, or OTPs over phone calls or messages
* Being wary of requests for video verification for credit card applications
* Verifying the authenticity of links received for credit card applications by visiting the official bank website and avoiding unsolicited links
By taking these precautions, individuals can safeguard their personal and financial information from falling victim to similar credit card scams.