- This topic has 0 replies, 1 voice, and was last updated 1 year, 3 months ago by
.
-
Posts
-
-
FTLDR at the end
Hi everyone,
I need urgent advice regarding a scam my father encountered and how to secure his bank account.
What Happened:
On March 19, 2025, my father searched Google for a frying pan exchange customer care number. He landed on a scam website and called the number listed.
They redirected him to another number and, through multiple calls, convinced him to install an app via WhatsApp.
Being unfamiliar with tech, he granted full permissions (SMS, contacts, media, etc.).
The Issue:
Suspicious Transactions: Sensing something was off, my father immediately transferred ₹80,000 to my sister’s account to protect his money.
A week later, after he finally told me everything, he transferred another ₹50,000 for safety.
Bank SMS Blocked: Since the scam, he has stopped receiving SMS alerts from his bank, meaning we can’t verify if scammers have withdrawn money or if his account is still at risk.
Unknown Bank Balance: He doesn’t remember his exact bank balance, as his funds are usually merged between his salary and MOD account, making it hard to track if money was stolen.
Fake App Detected: When I checked his phone, I found a fake customer care app that crashes the phone whenever we try to revoke its permissions.
Delayed Action: Unfortunately, my father didn’t tell me about this until a week later, making it harder to track fraudulent transactions.
Bank Account Blocked: Since it was a weekend and the bank was closed, I couldn’t verify transactions, but I called the bank and blocked all his accounts (SBI and others) as a precaution.
Scammer Details Found: I checked the scammer’s phone numbers on Truecaller and Telegram bots and found names indicating they are from Jharkhand and Bihar.
What We’ve Done So Far:
Reported it to Cyber Crime, but they only suggested formatting the phone (which doesn’t feel like a complete solution).
Blocked all his bank accounts over the phone.
What We Need Help With:
1. How can we restore bank SMS alerts? Could scammers have set up call/SMS forwarding?
2. How do we check if any unauthorized transactions were made before we blocked the account?
3. Since my father doesn’t remember his exact balance, how can we verify how much was taken?
4. Once the bank reopens, what should we ask them to do to secure the account?
5. Is formatting the phone enough, or could scammers still have remote access?
6. Any additional steps to prevent future fraud?
Any guidance would be really appreciated! We want to ensure his financial security and stop any further fraud.
Thanks in advance!
TL;DR:
My father got scammed after searching for a frying pan exchange online. He installed a fake customer care app that gained full permissions on his phone. Sensing the scam, he moved ₹80,000 + ₹50,000 to my sister’s account but stopped receiving bank SMS alerts, making it impossible to check if more money was stolen. He doesn’t remember his exact balance, and I blocked all his bank accounts over the phone since it was a weekend. Cyber Crime only suggested formatting the phone. How do we verify transactions, restore SMS alerts, and fully secure his account?
-
