Pune: Businessman Scammed of Rs 88,890 by Cyber Fraudsters Posing as MNGL Representatives
Kondhwa, 15th April 2025: A 34-year-old furniture businessman from Kondhwa was duped of Rs 88,890 on April 13 by cybercriminals posing as representatives of Maharashtra Natural Gas Limited (MNGL), who tricked him into updating his gas connection bill.
In his complaint to the police, the victim explained that he received text messages from senders claiming to be MNGL officials. The messages instructed him to contact a gas dealer to update his gas connection bill. Believing the messages to be legitimate, the victim followed the instructions and contacted the number provided.
The scammers then asked him to share his gas meter number and follow additional steps, including downloading a banking application. “At first, everything seemed normal, and I followed their instructions as they seemed genuine,” the victim said in his complaint.
Once the victim downloaded the app and shared his bank account details, the fraudsters gained remote access to his account. “The fraudsters transferred Rs 48,990 and Rs 39,900 in two separate transactions,” said a police officer familiar with the case.
The scam came to light when the victim received messages alerting him about the unauthorized withdrawals from his account. Shocked by the sudden debits, he immediately approached the Kondhwa police station and filed a complaint.
Following a preliminary investigation, the police registered a case of cheating under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act. Authorities have launched an inquiry to track down the culprits.
