- Bengaluru-based entrepreneur Aditi narrowly avoids falling victim to a sophisticated financial scam orchestrated through SMS.
- The scammer impersonated a family member in distress, urgently requesting the return of excess money mistakenly transferred.
- Aditi’s vigilance and quick thinking helped her identify the scam, emphasizing the importance of verifying financial alerts directly through official channels.
A Bengaluru entrepreneur, Aditi, recently shared her encounter with a sophisticated SMS scam that nearly cost her thousands. The scam, designed to create confusion and panic, involves impersonating a family member in distress and urgently requesting the return of mistakenly transferred money.
In Aditi’s case, the scammer posed as a relative, affectionately addressing her as “beta” and claiming to have mistakenly transferred a large sum of money to her account. Urgency was key in the scammer’s tactics, as they pressured Aditi to return the excess amount immediately. However, Aditi’s alertness saved her from falling victim to the scam. She noticed discrepancies in the SMS alerts, including the sender’s regular mobile number instead of an official bank ID.
Aditi’s story serves as a cautionary tale, highlighting the importance of verifying financial alerts directly through official channels, such as bank apps or websites. Relying solely on SMS notifications can leave individuals vulnerable to sophisticated scams, as scammers adeptly mimic official communications. It’s crucial to remain vigilant and double-check any unexpected financial requests, especially when they come through SMS.
