Coimbatore Police warn residents to be vigilant as fraudsters posing as travel firm staff duped 50 people
Coimbatore Cybercrime Alert: 50 People Lose Lakhs in Fake Travel App Scams
Hey folks, if you’ve ever booked a trip online, listen up! The cybercrime police in Coimbatore are sounding the alarm after scammers tricked nearly 50 residents into losing their hard-earned money. These fraudsters pretend to be customer care reps from popular travel apps to steal bank details and empty accounts. It’s a growing problem, and experts say staying vigilant is key to avoiding online scams like this.
Picture this: A 60-year-old woman from Kerala, living in Kovaipudur, had booked a hotel through a well-known travel app but canceled her plans. Desperate for a refund, she searched online and found a shady 10-digit number claiming to be the company’s helpline. Big mistake!
She called, and a guy posing as an executive gave her an email to request the refund. Right after she sent it, another scammer messaged her on WhatsApp, telling her to download an APK file. Thinking it was legit for the refund process, she installed it. Boom—that app let the hackers take remote control of her phone.
The trick got worse. The fraudster asked her to send just Rs 1 as a "test transaction" to a specific account. When she punched in her bank details, the scammers grabbed everything and siphoned off a whopping Rs 18 lakh from her account! She quickly filed a complaint with the cybercrime police, but the damage was done.
Police say this isn’t a one-off cyber fraud case. Over the past few months, dozens of Coimbatore folks have fallen for similar travel booking scams. They find fake customer care numbers online, download malicious apps, and end up losing cash. It’s all part of a bigger wave of cybercrime targeting people who book flights or hotels via apps.
Here’s the straight talk from the officers: Real bookings on certified platforms like this popular travel app can only get canceled through their official websites or apps. No genuine customer care agent will ever ask you to download third-party files or make direct bank transfers. That’s a huge red flag!
"Fraudsters keep inventing new tricks," warned a cybercrime wing officer. "Don’t hunt for random contact numbers on the internet, never share your banking details with strangers, and steer clear of unauthorized apps. If something feels off, report it right away."
The cybercrime police are urging everyone to stay sharp against these online travel scams. Awareness and quick action are your best defenses—report suspicious calls or messages immediately to stop these crooks in their tracks. Stay safe out there, and double-check before you click!
