Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi
Udupi, Dec 10: A 33-year-old automobile engineer from Gundmi in Brahmavar taluk, Udupi district, has reportedly lost Rs 4.37 lac to cybercriminals after seeking a short-term loan through a mobile application.
According to the complaint filed by Ranjan Shettigar, he had been facing financial constraints when he applied for a seven-day loan via the Smart Rupiya Online Loan App in the last week of October. He submitted his Aadhaar and PAN numbers, a selfie, mobile location access, and contact details, and soon received Rs 12,000, which he repaid within six days.
Shettigar stated that he was subsequently encouraged to borrow additional amounts through the same platform. Soon afterwards, unknown fraudsters contacted him on WhatsApp and Telegram, claiming links to the loan app. They allegedly issued threats to misuse his personal data and upload it on social media unless he made further payments.
“They said they would leak my information if I didn’t pay immediately,” he noted in his complaint.
Fearing the consequences, he proceeded to transfer Rs 4,37,253 across multiple transactions before realising he had been targeted by cyber extortionists.
Authorities are investigating the incident.