Archive · 17 Sep 2026
Mumbai Social Media Scams Cost Three Victims Rs 7 Lakh
Three people in Mumbai were tricked by scammers using Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.
One businessman responded to an advertisement for an HSBC credit card.
A fake customer-care caller obtained his bank-card details, and money was taken from his account.
A hotel waiter looking for work abroad was promised a job in Dubai.
The scammers pretended to be connected to chef Shubham Rawat and demanded money for visa and medical costs.
A salesman was sent a fake ICICI Bank application file and entered his card information.
Together, the three victims lost more than Rs 7 lakh.
Police are investigating the cases.
A 58-year-old businessman lost Rs 3,34,534 after responding to a fake HSBC credit-card advertisement on Facebook.
A Mumbai hotel waiter paid Rs 2,41,200 in 18 transfers after a fake job offer for work in Dubai.
A salesman lost Rs 1,80,000 after opening a fraudulent ICICI Bank credit-card application file sent through WhatsApp.
The scams involved fake customer-care calls, social-media advertisements, impersonation and requests for financial information.
Police have registered cases and are investigating the suspected fraudsters, phone numbers and bank accounts involved.
- Who
- A businessman, a hotel waiter and a salesman in Mumbai were defrauded; suspected cyber fraudsters carried out the scams.
- What
- The victims lost a combined Rs 7,55,734 through fake credit-card offers, a fraudulent overseas-job promise and a malicious application file.
- When
- The reported incidents occurred between August 14 and September 10, with the job scam payments made from August 27 to September 3.
- Where
- The cases were reported in Mumbai and involved Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.
- Why
- The scammers sought bank-card details or payments for supposed credit-card processing, KYC, visa processing, medical tests and an overseas job offer.
Victims’ Accounts
Police Findings
How trust was created
Victims’ Accounts
The victims believed the callers and advertisements were linked to legitimate banks, a customer-care service or a genuine overseas job opportunity.
Police Findings
Police said the fraudsters used fake advertisements, impersonated customer-care representatives and created a WhatsApp account using chef Shubham Rawat’s photograph.
Information or payments requested
Victims’ Accounts
The businessman and salesman said they entered bank-card or personal details after receiving instructions, while the waiter made payments for supposed job-related expenses.
Police Findings
Police investigations are examining the phone numbers, bank accounts and unidentified people allegedly used to obtain the money and information.
- Total loss
- Rs 7,55,734 across three cases
- Businessman’s loss
- Rs 3,34,534 from an IndusInd Bank account
- Waiter’s loss
- Rs 2,41,200 through 18 transactions over seven days
- Salesman’s loss
- Rs 1,80,000 charged through two transactions on a State Bank of India credit card
- Platforms involved
- Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp
- Investigation status
- Police registered cases and began investigations into the suspected fraudsters, phone numbers and bank accounts