0
(0)

Scammers Arrested In India Using A New Return Money Scam Tactic

A New Phone Scam Variation – Demanding the Return of Money Wrongly Sent

Author:
•  SCARS Editorial Team – Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.

About This Article

In a recent cyber fraud case in India, a scammer devised a cunning scheme involving a fake hotel website, duping an unsuspecting accountant of Rs 49,500 under the guise of room booking charges. The arrest of the scammer, Zafar Khan, unveiled a sophisticated new scam approach granting scammers easy access to their targets’ mobile numbers.

Table of contents

Leveraging the ‘Friend Search Tool’ app, Khan identified potential victims and initiated phone contact under the pretense of returning mistakenly credited money.

Victims complying unthinkingly faced threats of legal action, illustrating the power of conformity and compliance in scam victims when interacting with authority figures. This case underscores the need for vigilance against evolving cybercrime tactics globally.

How Scams & Fraud Work - on SCARS ScamsNOW.com

Unveiling the Scammer’s New Phone Scam Tactic: The Return Money Scam

The Recent Scammer’s Case

The discovery of the Return Money Scam:

In a recent case of cyber fraud, a scammer devised a clever scheme involving a fake hotel website, duping an unsuspecting accountant of Rs 49,500 under the guise of room booking charges. This incident not only led to the arrest of the scammer, Zafar Khan, but also shed light on a sophisticated new scam approach that grants scammers easy access to the mobile numbers of their targets.

The accountant, seeking accommodation near the airport for three days, fell victim to the scam after making three bank transactions. Subsequently, he lodged a complaint with the DB Marg Police on January 14, prompting an investigation spearheaded by a dedicated team supervised by DCP Mohit Garg.

Following the complaint, the team, led by senior PI Vinay Ghorpade and inspector Vilas Bhosale, apprehended Khan in Bharatpur, of Rajasthan. However, Khan’s arrest this month unveiled a more extensive scam.

Upon seizing Khan’s mobile device and recovering the stolen funds, investigators discovered his use of the ‘Friend Search Tool’ app to identify potential targets. By inputting random mobile numbers into the app, Khan obtained hundreds of contacts from specific localities that could become phone scam victims. Leveraging platforms like Truecaller, he gathered detailed information about these individuals (scam victims)  and initiated phone contact under the guise of getting the victims to return money that was overpaid to them (return money scam.)

How this Return Money Scam works:

  1. Operating under the pretense of mistakenly crediting or depositing an amount of money into the person’s (victim’s) accounts,
  2. Khan would then persuade the victim to return the money immediately.
  3. Victims who complied unthinkingly would then return the money.
  4. Those who resisted returning the money faced threats of legal action.

Additionally, investigators suspect Khan’s involvement in another reported case, indicating a broader network of fraud.

Currently, Khan’s brother Kareem and an accomplice, whose bank account facilitated the illicit transactions, remain at large, underscoring the need for continued vigilance against evolving cybercrime tactics.

However, take note, that this is a scam that will work anywhere in the world, not just in India. Conformity and compliance are powerful desires in scam victims that can be exploited.

Compliance

To further deceive the victim, scammers may employ persuasive tactics, such as impersonating law enforcement officers or banking officials, to instill a sense of urgency and intimidation. Additionally, they may manipulate the victim’s emotions by insinuating dire consequences, including arrest or prosecution, if the repayment is delayed or refused.

Unfortunately, many individuals fall victim to this scheme due to the perceived legitimacy of the communication and the fear of facing legal consequences. Moreover, the psychological manipulation tactics employed by scammers can cloud scam victims’ judgment and compel them to act irrationally out of fear and desperation.

Scam victims often find themselves in a vulnerable position when communicating with authority figures, such as law enforcement officers or supposed representatives from financial institutions. The inherent power dynamics in these interactions, coupled with the victim’s desire to comply and conform, create a fertile ground for manipulation by scammers. Faced with the perceived authority of the individual on the other end of the line, victims may feel compelled to acquiesce to their demands without question, fearing the repercussions of non-compliance.

The psychological pressure exerted by authority figures can further exacerbate this tendency to comply. Victims may experience heightened anxiety and a sense of urgency to adhere to the directives issued by these figures, even if they harbor doubts or suspicions about the legitimacy of the situation. Additionally, the fear of facing punitive measures, such as arrest or legal action, can drive victims to prioritize obedience over critical thinking, leading them to overlook red flags and warning signs of potential scams.

Summary

This is yet another example of how scammers can exploit their victim’s uncertainty and confusion. By asserting authority the average person would want to comply to avoid prosecution or liability, but in doing that they become an unwitting victim of a scam.

Please Rate This Article

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate it!

Average rating 0 / 5. Vote count: 0

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.

Since you found this post useful...

Follow us on social media!

We are sorry that this post was not useful for you!

Let us improve this post!

Tell us how we can improve this post?

Please Leave Us Your Comment
Also, tell us of any topics we might have missed.

Leave a Reply

Your comments help the SCARS Institute better understand all scam victim/survivor experiences and improve our services and processes. Thank you

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Thank you for your comment. You may receive an email to follow up. We never share your data with marketers.

Recent Reader Comments

Did you find this article useful?

If you did, please help the SCARS Institute to continue helping Scam Victims to become Survivors.

Your gift helps us continue our work and help more scam victims to find the path to recovery!

You can give at donate.AgainstScams.org

Important Information for New Scam Victims

If you are looking for local trauma counselors please visit counseling.AgainstScams.org or join SCARS for our counseling/therapy benefit: membership.AgainstScams.org

If you need to speak with someone now, you can dial 988 or find phone numbers for crisis hotlines all around the world here: www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines

A Question of Trust

At the SCARS Institute, we invite you to do your own research on the topics we speak about and publish, Our team investigates the subject being discussed, especially when it comes to understanding the scam victims-survivors experience. You can do Google searches but in many cases, you will have to wade through scientific papers and studies. However, remember that biases and perspectives matter and influence the outcome. Regardless, we encourage you to explore these topics as thoroughly as you can for your own awareness.

SCARS Resources:

-/ 30 /-

What do you think about this?
Please share your thoughts in a comment below!

More ScamsNOW.com Articles

SCARS LINKS:   AgainstScams.org    RomanceScamsNOW.com    ContraEstafas.org    ScammerPhotos.com    Anyscam.com    ScamsNOW.com

reporting.AgainstScams.org    support.AgainstScams.org    membership.AgainstScams.org    donate.AgainstScams.org    shop.AgainstScams.org

youtube.AgainstScams.org    linkedin.AgainstScams.org    facebook.AgainstScams.org

PLEASE NOTE: Psychology Clarification

The following specific modalities within the practice of psychology are restricted to psychologists appropriately trained in the use of such modalities:

  • Diagnosis: The diagnosis of mental, emotional, or brain disorders and related behaviors.
  • Psychoanalysis: Psychoanalysis is a type of therapy that focuses on helping individuals to understand and resolve unconscious conflicts.
  • Hypnosis: Hypnosis is a state of trance in which individuals are more susceptible to suggestion. It can be used to treat a variety of conditions, including anxiety, depression, and pain.
  • Biofeedback: Biofeedback is a type of therapy that teaches individuals to control their bodily functions, such as heart rate and blood pressure. It can be used to treat a variety of conditions, including stress, anxiety, and pain.
  • Behavioral analysis: Behavioral analysis is a type of therapy that focuses on changing individuals’ behaviors. It is often used to treat conditions such as autism and ADHD.
    Neuropsychology: Neuropsychology is a type of psychology that focuses on the relationship between the brain and behavior. It is often used to assess and treat cognitive impairments caused by brain injuries or diseases.

SCARS and the members of the SCARS Team do not engage in any of the above modalities in relationship to scam victims. SCARS is not a mental healthcare provider and recognizes the importance of professionalism and separation between its work and that of the licensed practice of psychology.

SCARS is an educational provider of generalized self-help information that individuals can use for their own benefit to achieve their own goals related to emotional trauma. SCARS recommends that all scam victims see professional counselors or therapists to help them determine the suitability of any specific information or practices that may help them.

SCARS cannot diagnose or treat any individuals, nor can it state the effectiveness of any educational information that it may provide, regardless of its experience in interacting with traumatized scam victims over time. All information that SCARS provides is purely for general educational purposes to help scam victims become aware of and better understand the topics and to be able to dialog with their counselors or therapists.

It is important that all readers understand these distinctions and that they apply the information that SCARS may publish at their own risk, and should do so only after consulting a licensed psychologist or mental healthcare provider.

Opinions

The opinions of the author are not necessarily those of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. The author is solely responsible for the content of their work. SCARS is protected under the Communications Decency Act (CDA) section 230 from liability.

Disclaimer:

SCARS IS A DIGITAL PUBLISHER AND DOES NOT OFFER HEALTH OR MEDICAL ADVICE, LEGAL ADVICE, FINANCIAL ADVICE, OR SERVICES THAT SCARS IS NOT LICENSED OR REGISTERED TO PERFORM.

IF YOU’RE FACING A MEDICAL EMERGENCY, CALL YOUR LOCAL EMERGENCY SERVICES IMMEDIATELY, OR VISIT THE NEAREST EMERGENCY ROOM OR URGENT CARE CENTER. YOU SHOULD CONSULT YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER BEFORE FOLLOWING ANY MEDICALLY RELATED INFORMATION PRESENTED ON OUR PAGES.

ALWAYS CONSULT A LICENSED ATTORNEY FOR ANY ADVICE REGARDING LEGAL MATTERS.

A LICENSED FINANCIAL OR TAX PROFESSIONAL SHOULD BE CONSULTED BEFORE ACTING ON ANY INFORMATION RELATING TO YOUR PERSONAL FINANCES OR TAX-RELATED ISSUES AND INFORMATION.

SCARS IS NOT A PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR – WE DO NOT PROVIDE INVESTIGATIVE SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS OR BUSINESSES. ANY INVESTIGATIONS THAT SCARS MAY PERFORM IS NOT A SERVICE PROVIDED TO THIRD-PARTIES. INFORMATION REPORTED TO SCARS MAY BE FORWARDED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AS SCARS SEE FIT AND APPROPRIATE.

This content and other material contained on the website, apps, newsletter, and products (“Content”), is general in nature and for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or financial advice; the Content is not intended to be a substitute for licensed or regulated professional advice. Always consult your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider, lawyer, financial, or tax professional with any questions you may have regarding the educational information contained herein. SCARS makes no guarantees about the efficacy of information described on or in SCARS’ Content. The information contained is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible situations or effects. SCARS does not recommend or endorse any specific professional or care provider, product, service, or other information that may be mentioned in SCARS’ websites, apps, and Content unless explicitly identified as such.

The disclaimers herein are provided on this page for ease of reference. These disclaimers supplement and are a part of SCARS’ website’s Terms of Use. 

Legal Notices: 

All original content is Copyright © 1991 – 2023 Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. (Registered D.B.A SCARS) All Rights Reserved Worldwide & Webwide. Third-party copyrights acknowledge.

U.S. State of Florida Registration Nonprofit (Not for Profit) #N20000011978 [SCARS DBA Registered #G20000137918] – Learn more at www.AgainstScams.org

SCARS, SCARS|INTERNATIONAL, SCARS, SCARS|SUPPORT, SCARS, RSN, Romance Scams Now, SCARS|INTERNATION, SCARS|WORLDWIDE, SCARS|GLOBAL, SCARS, Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams, Society of Citizens Against Romance Scams, SCARS|ANYSCAM, Project Anyscam, Anyscam, SCARS|GOFCH, GOFCH, SCARS|CHINA, SCARS|CDN, SCARS|UK, SCARS|LATINOAMERICA, SCARS|MEMBER, SCARS|VOLUNTEER, SCARS Cybercriminal Data Network, Cobalt Alert, Scam Victims Support Group, SCARS ANGELS, SCARS RANGERS, SCARS MARSHALLS, SCARS PARTNERS, are all trademarks of Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc., All Rights Reserved Worldwide

Contact the legal department for the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Incorporated by email at legal@AgainstScams.org