Haryana Petrol Pumps cautions of Cybercrime Trap: Vigilance Urged to Avoid Colluding with Cash-Siphoning Fraudsters
Recent Incident in District Nuh Highlights the Dangers of Collusion with Cyber Criminals
Chandigarh 2 January. Petrol pump operators across the state should be cautious while doing transactions through digital medium because their slightest carelessness can land them behind the bars. Haryana Police has asked all the petrol pump operators of the state to be alert while transacting with any person through digital medium because that person can also be a cyber criminal.
The information was given today by the Director General of Police, Shatrujeet Kapur.
He said that the Haryana Police has observed instances where cyber criminals transfer money to bank accounts through digital fraud. Subsequently, they approach various petrol pumps, colluding with the operators to withdraw cash, an act deemed illegal. In light of this, Kapur stressed the importance of vigilance among all petrol pump operators, emphasizing that even the slightest negligence on their part could lead to legal consequences, including imprisonment.
A recent incident has come to the forefront. Detailing the case, it was reported that on the afternoon of Saturday, December 30, Haryana Police was alerted about a cyber fraud involving ₹50,000 from a woman’s bank account. The victim stated that the perpetrator, posing as an insurance representative, informed her that her policy had matured. The imposter instructed her to facilitate the transfer of the maturity amount to her bank account via an online medium. However, upon following these instructions, instead of receiving funds, the victim observed unauthorized withdrawals. Realizing she had fallen victim to cyber fraud, she promptly reported the incident to the cyber helpline and filed a formal complaint. Subsequent investigations revealed the incident’s association with the Nuh district. In response, joint teams from the Nuh District Police and the Cyber Police Station in Panchkula were constituted to apprehend the culprits. Acting on this, a team from the Cyber Police Station in Panchkula, led by SP Cyber Amit Dahiya, discovered that the cybercriminals had made cash withdrawals from a petrol pump in the Nuh district. The Haryana Police successfully apprehended all three suspects involved, who were presented in court today. During interrogations, the accused admitted to levying a commission of three to five percent on petrol pump operators for facilitating cash withdrawals. Digital evidence supporting the claims has been seized from the suspects.”
“Mr. Kapur highlighted that cybercriminals are continually evolving their fraudulent tactics. Presently, they exploit individuals under the guise of online courier services. In such scenarios, it’s imperative for people to exercise caution, refraining from clicking on unfamiliar links or engaging in dubious online transactions without thorough verification. Additionally, cybercriminals are orchestrating task-based scams. They entice individuals with promises of lucrative earnings, only to ensnare them in fraudulent activities during the task’s execution. Another concerning trend is ‘sextortion,’ where cybercriminals leverage personal information to blackmail unsuspecting victims. Moreover, many fall prey to cyber scams via Google-based searches. Often, individuals inadvertently disclose sensitive bank account details on unfamiliar websites, subsequently becoming targets of cyber fraud. Kapur further warned about the risks associated with Google ads promoting online liquor purchases. In light of these growing threats, DGP earnestly appealed to the public: remain vigilant and never share bank account details or personal information with unknown entities.”
