A Bengaluru woman, Preeti Kom Sree Sudhakar, successfully recovered Rs 14 lakh last month after falling victim to a sophisticated cyber fraud, thanks to the quick action of the police within the so-called ‘Golden Hour’. Sudhakar, 44, a resident of Basaveshwaranagar, Bengaluru, was contacted via WhatsApp by fraudsters who tricked her into transferring money.
How the Scam Happened
On August 26, Sudhakar received a call from individuals posing as Mumbai Cyber Crime Police officers. They falsely claimed that her bank account was linked to illegal transactions and threatened her with arrest. The scammers instructed her to transfer money to an account for “verification” purposes to avoid legal action.
Frightened by the threats, Sudhakar transferred Rs 14 lakh from her HDFC Bank account to an unknown Yes Bank account. Sensing something was wrong, she approached the Cybercrime, Economic Offences, and Narcotics (CEN) police station, West Division, Bengaluru. The police immediately registered a case and began their investigation.
Bengaluru Police Act Swiftly
Acting within the ‘Golden Hour’—the critical time after a fraudulent transaction is initiated but before the funds are moved—the Bengaluru Police coordinated with the National Cyber Helpline (1930) to freeze the transferred amount. Following a court order, Yes Bank returned the frozen funds, and the full amount was credited back to Sudhakar’s account by September 3, just a week after the scam occurred.
Understanding the ‘Golden Hour’
The ‘Golden Hour’ refers to the short period after a scam transaction is initiated but before the money reaches the scammer’s account. Acting within this window significantly increases the chances of recovering stolen funds.
These incidents highlight the growing sophistication of cyber fraud and the importance of quick action by authorities to safeguard victims’ funds.
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