Pune: Senior Duped after Booking Doctor Appointment Online, Falls Prey to Cyber Fraud
Pune, 6th April 2026: A senior citizen was allegedly duped of Rs 5.54 lakh by cyber fraudsters after she booked an online appointment with a doctor for treatment of sinus-related issues.
A case has been registered by the Deccan police against unidentified cyber criminals in connection with the incident.
According to the complaint filed at the Deccan police station, the elderly woman resides in a housing society on Law College Road and had been suffering from sinus problems. While searching online for a specialist, she came across details of a doctor and found a mobile number listed for appointments.
When she contacted the number to book an appointment, it was answered not by the doctor but by cyber fraudsters who had inserted their contact details in place of the doctor’s number. The fraudsters initially asked her to transfer Rs 5 online as a token amount to confirm the appointment, which she did.
Police said the woman’s mobile number was linked to her bank account. The accused allegedly hacked her phone number and subsequently transferred Rs 5.54 lakh from her bank account to their own accounts.
The fraud came to light when her family members grew suspicious and noticed that her mobile number had been deactivated.
