Money Transferred by Mistake Scam: Beware of the Deceptive Tactics
The "Money Transferred by Mistake" scam involves fraudsters sending money to a victim's account and then contacting them, claiming the transfer was a mistake. The scammer requests the victim to return the money, often providing a convincing story to gain sympathy. However, the initial transfer is usually made using stolen funds or fraudulent means, and once the victim returns the money, they are left liable for the amount when the original transaction is reversed.
- A Recent incident
In a recent incident in Mumbai, scammers used the "Money Transferred by Mistake" tactic to steal over ₹1 crore from 81 users. The fraudsters sent small amounts of money to the victims' accounts via UPI apps like Google Pay and then contacted them, claiming the transfer was a mistake. They requested the victims to return the money, and as soon as the victims complied, the scammers hacked into their bank accounts and stole significant amounts of money. This incident highlights the importance of verifying unexpected money transfers and being cautious of such requests.
Ref.: Scammers steal Rs 1 crore from 81 users in a viral KYC scam in Mumbai, how to stay safe - India Today
News Clippings with sources
Incident 1
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Incident 3
Image 2 ref: Noida woman loses Rs 50,000 in money transfer scam