Recently, famous Bollywood actor Aftab Shivdasani, known for his roles in movies like Masti and the recent OTT show Special Ops 1.5: The Himmat Story, fell prey to online scammers. He lost Rs 1.5 lakh due to a fake online Know Your Customer (KYC) scam.
Here is How The Scam Happened with Aftab
Aftab received a text message asking him to update his KYC using the link provided. The problem was, that the link was fake. When he clicked it, he lost the money from his bank account. He was warned that his account would be suspended if he didn’t comply, which led him to click the link. Afterward, he received another message stating that Rs 1,49,999 had been taken from his account.
Realizing he’d been scammed, Aftab contacted the bank’s branch manager and filed a complaint with the police. They have now filed a case against the scammers under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Information Technology (IT) Act.
To protect yourself from such scams, follow these steps:
- Avoid clicking links from unknown sources in text messages.
- Be cautious about sharing personal information with unfamiliar callers or through messages, even if they claim to be friends or family in emergencies. Always verify such requests by calling the person directly. If it’s a scam, report the number immediately.
- Never share your private financial information with anyone claiming to be from the bank.
- Do not download apps from random links sent in messages or emails. Use official apps for banking or KYC purposes.
By following these simple precautions, you can protect yourself from falling victim to online scams.
