Archive · 4 Aug 2026
Bengaluru Man Scammed ₹3.49 Lakh Over Fake SIR Verification
An 82‑year‑old man in Bengaluru was tricked by people pretending to be Election Commission officials.
They told him his voter list needed a quick fix and asked him to pay a small fee and download a fake app.
The app stole his phone data and bank details, and the scammers used them to take ₹3.49 lakh from his credit card.
He reported the theft to the police and the National Cyber Crime Helpline.
Police warned everyone that SIR verification is free, done only through official government sites, and that no one should share personal info or download unknown apps.
An 82‑year‑old Bengaluru resident lost ₹3.49 lakh to a fake SIR verification scam.
Fraudsters posed as Election Commission officials, demanding a ₹5 fee and a fake app via QR code.
The fake app accessed the victim’s phone and banking details, enabling unauthorized credit‑card transactions.
The victim reported the fraud to local police and the National Cyber Crime Helpline, and a case was opened.
Police and cyber experts warned that SIR verification is free, done only through official channels, and advise against sharing personal data or downloading unknown apps.
- Who
- R Parthasarathy, an 82‑year‑old resident of Rustum Bagh, Bengaluru
- What
- Fraudulent SIR verification scam that stole ₹3.49 lakh
- Where
- Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
- Why
- Fraudsters impersonated Election Commission officials to trick the victim into downloading a fake app and paying a fee
- Victim
- R Parthasarathy
- Amount Lost
- ₹3.49 lakh
- Fraud Method
- Fake SIR verification app via QR code
- Police Action
- Case registered with National Cyber Crime Helpline
- Official Advice
- SIR verification is free and done only through official channels
