SRINAGAR: Jammu Kashmir Police have cautioned people against a cyber fraud in which a senior citizen was allegedly cheated of Rs 1.62 lakh by a scammer impersonating a Jal Board official and threatening to disconnect the victim’s water supply over an unpaid bill.
According to a cyber safety advisory shared by the police, the fraudster sent a fake payment link through WhatsApp after warning the victim that the water connection would be disconnected if the outstanding bill was not paid. The victim’s bank details were obtained, following which Rs 1.62 lakh was withdrawn from the account.
The police have urged people to remain cautious of unsolicited calls and messages that create urgency to pressure them into making payments. They advised consumers to pay water bills only through official websites or applications and to verify payment requests before acting on them.
The advisory also warned against transferring money to unknown accounts or sharing banking details with unverified callers. People were advised to take time to check the authenticity of such demands rather than act under pressure.
Anyone who falls victim to cyber fraud can report the incident through the national cybercrime helpline 1930 or the official portal cybercrime.gov.in, the advisory said.
