A resident of Muzaffarpur, Bihar fell victim to a sophisticated remote access application scam that resulted in the loss of ₹3.5 lakh from his bank account. The cybercrime incident occurred when the victim was searching online for courier service assistance and discovered what appeared to be a legitimate customer support contact number through Google search results.
Scam operation
The fraudsters posed as courier service agents and initiated contact with the unsuspecting victim. During the conversation, the criminals convinced the man to download and install a remote access application on his mobile device, claiming it would help resolve his delivery-related issues. Once the victim granted remote access permissions to the application, the cybercriminals gained complete control over his smartphone and banking applications .
Financial impact
Within minutes of installing the malicious remote access software, the fraudsters executed multiple unauthorized transactions from the victim's bank account. The scammers managed to conduct seven separate high-value financial transfers, draining a total amount of ₹3.5 lakh from the man's banking accounts. The transactions were processed rapidly, taking advantage of the victim's digital banking credentials that were accessible through the compromised device .
Broader criminal network
Local police investigations have revealed that this incident is part of a larger interstate fraud syndicate operating across multiple states. The cyber crime cell has traced the fraudulent transactions to various bank accounts, suggesting a well-organized criminal network. Law enforcement agencies suspect that the scammers strategically place fake customer service numbers on internet search platforms, impersonating official service providers to target unsuspecting consumers.
Rising threat
This case represents an alarming trend in cybercrime where fraudsters exploit remote desktop applications like AnyDesk and TeamViewer to gain unauthorized access to victims' devices. The scammers often target individuals seeking customer support for various services, including courier deliveries, utility bills, and other common consumer needs. These social engineering attacks have become increasingly sophisticated, with criminals creating convincing scenarios to pressure victims into installing malicious software.
Prevention and safety measures
Cybersecurity experts emphasize the importance of digital awareness and caution when dealing with unsolicited support calls or online search results. Users should verify customer service numbers directly from official websites rather than relying on search engine results.
Additionally, individuals should never install remote access applications unless they are completely certain about the legitimacy of the requesting party. Financial institutions and telecom providers are working to implement enhanced fraud detection systems to identify and prevent such scams in real-time .