Kolkata: A Re-1 UPI payment led to a loss of Rs 5 lakh for a resident of Chandpurpally near Kolkata airport a few months back. Probing into the case, police arrested a 21-year-old fraudster from Kalyani in North 24 Parganas.
According to the complaint filed by Subhash Chandra Bala (55), the fraud began on Dec 31, 2024, when he searched for PhonePe customer care on Google to resolve a payment-related issue. He dialled a number listed in the Google search. He was asked by the person, posing as a PhonePe executive, to download a remote access application named "RustDesk.
""After gaining access to Bala's device, the fraudster directed him to send Rs 1 via UPI to a test account. Moments later, Rs 98,499 was debited from his bank account as the fraudsters gained access to his phone and could also know the password while he keyed it in while making the Rs 1 transaction," said a senior officer of Bidhannagar City Police. "When Bala confronted the caller, he was told the money would be refunded — but only if he provided another bank account. Trusting the explanation, he shared his SBI account details, from which Rs 4 lakhs was then withdrawn.
" A total of Rs 5 lakh was siphoned off in the fraud. Airport Police started a probe under BNS sections related to cheating, criminal breach of trust, and criminal conspiracy and were able to arrest Sudhanshu Saha (21) on Monday.