Kolkata: A Patuli resident, a homoeopathy doctor by profession, lost Rs 78,054 in an online scam after receiving a fraudulent call from someone posing as a member of the Border Security Force (BSF). The caller asked the victim to arrange a special check-up camp for BSF personnel, particularly to ensure "there was no Covid outbreak in the unit".The victim, a resident of New Raipur Road, reported receiving a call from an unidentified number around 7 pm on May 8. The caller requested permission to send BSF personnel from "Garia camp" to the doctor's clinic at Patuli for a check-up and demanded advance online payment for gate passes."The caller convinced me to join a video call to verify my account details. They said they needed to pay my fees in advance so that gate passes could be issued. They mentioned that a senior BSF officer would make a video call to verify my accounts. Once the call was made, I followed their instructions without realising it was a scam," said the victim.Two unauthorised transactions were made from the victim's bank accounts. The first transaction of Rs 49,527 was processed through a UPI ID. The second of Rs 28,527 was made through BPAY. Both payments were transferred to an account linked to a credit card ending in 4784. The phone number associated with the fraudulent credit card has also been identified, said cops, adding that steps to block the transfer of money have already been initiated.This incident adds to the growing number of cyber fraud cases where scammers impersonate military or law enforcement personnel to gain victims' trust. Cybersecurity experts advise citizens to verify credentials and avoid sharing financial information over phone calls.The Patuli police have registered a complaint and launched an investigation into the matter along with the divisional cyber cell. They have urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious calls immediately."Scammers have found a new way to dupe people posting property ads online on online platforms for a long time now. This modus operandi, using health checks and Covid as a shield, is comparatively new. Be it flat owners or someone looking for a flat on rent or going for doctor consultations, these scammers have figured out a way to make money. To gain the trust of people, they are posing as officers from the Indian Army, CISF, police, and other govt organisations. What's concerning is that these scammers are providing copies of authentic govt IDs like canteen cards, Indian Army ID cards, etc., to convince victims for a deal," explained an investigating officer from the Lalbazar cyber cell. MSID:: 121674744 413 | Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Eid wishes, messages, and quotes !