Bhargavi Mani, 28, had her life turned upside down when she fell victim to a sophisticated scam that took place at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru. While trying to gain access to the airport lounge before her flight, Bhargavi lost over Rs 87,000 and had to resort to legal action. 

In the wake of the incident that happened on September 29, Mani took to social media to share her experience, without giving details, calling attention to the dangers of fraud in public spaces, and warning others about the risks that can result. According to an article by the New York Times, Mani recounted her experience in a viral video in which she recounts how, before entering the airport lounge, she lost her credit card, which she could not find. 

She tried to gain access to the lounge by showing a photocopy of her credit card, but the staff would not let her in and instead, instructed her to download a mobile app called "Lounge Pass" and complete a facial scan to gain access.  It turns out that even though the woman downloaded the app, she has never used it. Instead, she chooses to go and get a cup of coffee at Starbucks before she takes off for her flight, she explained. She began to receive phone calls from friends notifying her they couldn't reach her by phone a few days after returning from the trip. This was initially attributed to ongoing problems she was experiencing with her Airtel service, which were going on for months now, and which she thought would go away soon. 

When a dear friend suggested that a man had been answering her calls, alarm bells went off in her head, and she dismissed it at the time because there was a personal matter preventing her from taking action. It was only after receiving a credit card statement that she received the real shock and learned that over Rs 87,000 had been transferred to a PhonePay account, which it was discovered were unauthorized transactions. According to her, the scammers may have gained access to her phone through the app she downloaded, allowing them to forward calls and possibly intercept one-time passwords (OTPs) to complete the fraudulent transactions through her phone. 

Ms Mani clarified in a new video posted today that there was never a point where she blamed Bengaluru International Airport or its authorities for anything that had happened. Furthermore, she also stated that the airport authorities have reached out to her and are actively helping her to be as prepared as possible for the situation. Her bank and credit card company have been notified of the incident, and she has since reported it to the cybercrime department of the police department. 

The feeling of security is particularly prevalent at places such as airports, where people are used to feeling safe. She has since notified the cybercrime department and blocked her HDFC credit card in addition to notifying her bank and informing them of her plight. Hopefully, travellers will take this story to act as a cautionary tale and be vigilant about downloading apps or revealing personal information to third parties without verifying the validity of the app. 

Mani took immediate action in reporting the fraud to the cybercrime department, alerting her bank, and blocking her credit card to prevent further losses. There is a lesson to be learned from her experiences: be cautious when sharing personal information and using unfamiliar apps, and use them with caution. She shared several important safety tips with the audience, including advice about avoiding downloading applications from unverified sources and being aware of unusual verification requests such as facial scanning. Earlier this month, a businessman in Chennai narrowly avoided losing nearly ₹2 crore in a sophisticated email scam. 

The fraudsters, posing as the businessman’s supplier, sent a meticulously crafted fake email that was a continuation of an ongoing business conversation. The email was convincing, even including a fraudulent invoice, which led the businessman to transfer ₹2 crore to a fraudulent account. The deception was so well executed that the businessman only realized he had fallen victim to a scam after contacting his actual supplier the following day. Upon discovering the fraud, he immediately reported the incident to the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. 

The cybercrime team handled the case with urgency, whose swift and coordinated response resulted in the recovery of the stolen funds. This incident underscores the growing threat of sophisticated cybercrime tactics, where scammers exploit seemingly legitimate communication channels to defraud unsuspecting victims. The businessman’s timely reporting and the cybercrime team’s prompt action were crucial in mitigating the financial damage in this case. It serves as a reminder to all businesses to remain vigilant and verify the authenticity of financial transactions, especially when dealing with large sums of money. 

These incidents highlight the increasing sophistication of cybercriminals, who are now targeting individuals and businesses alike through various means, including phishing emails, fraudulent apps, and unauthorized transactions. As seen in both the Bengaluru airport lounge scam and the Chennai businessman’s case, even trusted environments such as airports or established business relationships can be exploited by fraudsters.

Individuals must remain vigilant, exercise caution when downloading unfamiliar apps or sharing personal information, and regularly monitor financial statements for any unusual activity. In addition, businesses must ensure that internal communication channels are secure, and take immediate action when irregularities are detected. Both cases serve as stark reminders of the growing complexity of cybercrime, urging greater awareness and swift action to prevent significant financial losses. 

With the support of cybercrime departments, victims like Ms. Bhargavi Mani and the Chennai businessman have been able to mitigate the damage, but these incidents underscore the importance of proactive security measures to safeguard against the ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats.