• Fraudsters pose as Army officers to gain trust.
• They share fake ID cards and urgency for the transaction.
• Victims are tricked into scanning QR codes that debit their accounts instead of crediting them.

Case 1: Pune Man Duped Through Fake Buyer Scam

A 36-year-old man from Pune, who was selling his old smartphone on OLX, was contacted by a potential buyer claiming to be an Army officer.

The Scam Unfolds

Step 1: Establishing Contact and Gaining Trust

The buyer introduced himself as an Indian Army officer stationed in a remote area and showed urgency in purchasing the phone. To build trust, he shared a fake ID card and photographs in uniform.

Step 2: Fake Payment Link

The scammer claimed that the payment could be processed through a QR code and sent the victim a fake Google Pay link. When the seller scanned the code, instead of receiving money, his account was debited by ₹32,700.

Step 3: Realization and Legal Action

Upon noticing the fraudulent transaction, the victim approached the cybercrime police and filed a complaint.

Source: Times of India