A social media influencer recently shared her harrowing experience of falling prey to a sophisticated cyber scam, losing Rs 1,10,000 after responding to a fraudulent KYC update request. The incident has sparked widespread discussion on online security, urging people to be extra cautious with digital transactions.
Akanksha Thakral, the influencer in question, recounted the incident in a viral video, explaining how she was tricked by a scammer posing as an official from Axis Bank. The fraudster initially contacted her over the phone, claiming that her KYC (Know Your Customer) details were incomplete and needed urgent verification. When she expressed her inability to complete the process immediately, the caller followed up in the evening, offering a convenient online solution to update her details remotely without visiting the bank.
Trusting the caller’s instructions, she received a WhatsApp message containing a link, which directed her to what appeared to be an official Axis Bank KYC update page. Without suspecting foul play, she entered her banking details into the fraudulent form. Within minutes, she received a notification that Rs 50,000 had been debited from her account. Realizing something was wrong, she attempted to log out of all her UPI applications to prevent further damage. However, before she could secure her accounts, another Rs 60,000 was deducted, leaving her with only Rs 800, which she quickly transferred to another account for safety.
Further investigation revealed that clicking on the fake KYC link had allowed the scammer to install a message spoofing app on her phone, enabling them to intercept and manipulate her financial transactions. This method is commonly used by cybercriminals to gain unauthorized access to sensitive banking information.
In her video, Thakral expressed frustration over the response from law enforcement authorities. She stated that when she reported the fraud, both the police and cybercrime officials appeared indifferent, dismissing her case by saying that such incidents occur frequently. She was even questioned about how someone educated like her could fall for such a scam.
Her story resonated with many social media users, who flooded the comments section with advice and concerns about digital security. One user remarked on the alarming rise in cyber fraud, urging others to be vigilant. Another suggested lowering transaction limits to mitigate potential financial damage in such situations. Some also criticized the inefficiency of the cybercrime portal, expressing frustration over the lack of swift action against online fraudsters.
Thakral concluded her video with a strong message: “I lost money, but more than that, I felt violated knowing someone had access to my phone. I rebooted it, but that creepy feeling didn’t go away. The police weren’t helpful, but I’m sharing my experience so others don’t make the same mistake. Never click on any suspicious link—message spoofing is real.”
Her ordeal serves as a crucial reminder for everyone to exercise extreme caution while handling online banking requests. Experts advise always verifying with official bank representatives before responding to any KYC updates and avoiding clicking on unknown links to prevent falling victim to similar scams.
