A 25-year-old pregnant woman from Odisha’s Shraddhapur village became the latest victim of a sophisticated online scam. The victim received a call from fraudsters posing as health department employees who duped her of Rs 17,000 by making her believe that she was eligible for financial assistance under a government scheme. What makes this scam more worrying is how the scammers managed to dupe the victim by using the name of a well-known government scheme designed to aid pregnant women and mothers.

According to a Times of India report, the scam began when the fraudster approached a local ASHA worker in Shraddhapur, who was aware of the victim’s pregnancy. Posing as an official from Delhi’s health department, the scammer asked the ASHA worker for details about the victim to make him appear legitimate. The fraudster claimed that the victim was eligible to receive money from the Mamta Yojana, a government financial assistance program aimed at helping pregnant mothers with health care costs.

To further prove his legitimacy, the scammer arranged a conference call with the victim, so that it looked like an official communication. During the call, the fraudster asked the victim if he had received funds under the scheme and assured him that he would soon receive the first installment of Rs 6,000. The victim, unaware of the impending scam, believed the caller’s story, especially when he made a reference to a genuine government scheme.

The fraudster then sent a link to the victim and asked her to open it to claim the money. Trusting the process, the victim followed the instructions and shared the one-time password (OTP) with the caller, assuming it was part of the verification process. However, instead of receiving Rs 6,000, Rs 17,000 was debited from her bank account within a few minutes.

On realising the incident, the victim immediately reported the incident to the local police station at Lahunipada. The scam highlights the growing threat of cybercrime, especially in rural areas where people may not be familiar with the latest technological developments or the methods used by fraudsters. Victims are often targeted due to their vulnerability or lack of knowledge about digital financial transactions, making them easy prey for fraudsters.

How to stay safe?

Since such scams are on the rise, vigilance is a must. Not only should you be aware, but you should also inform people around you.

Always check information from official sources. If someone claims to represent a government department or scheme, call the official helpline or visit the official website to confirm their claims.

Never share OTPs. OTPs are meant to keep your financial transactions secure. Never share them with anyone, even if they claim to be from a legitimate organisation.

Avoid clicking on unfamiliar links sent via messages or emails, especially from unknown numbers. Fraudsters often use these links to access sensitive data or install malware on your device.