How a Rs 113 cab excess fare refund request cost a doctor Rs 4.9 lakh

A doctor in Safdarjung Enclave in Delhi fell victim to a digital fraud, losing Rs 4.9 lakh after seeking a refund of Rs 113 from a cab service company. As per a TOI report, Pradeep Chowdhury, residing in Arjun Nagar, had booked a cab for his commute to Gurgaon, expecting to pay Rs 205. However, he was charged Rs 318 at the end of the ride, prompting him to question the driver about the additional Rs 113. The driver suggested contacting the cab service's customer care for a refund.

Chowdhury promptly searched the internet and found a phone number claiming to belong to the cab company. Unfortunately for him, the number was fake. When he called, the person on the other end posed as a customer care representative named Rakesh Mishra. Chowdhury explained the situation and requested a refund. Mishra instructed him to download a remote sensing application and open his e-wallet. Then, he asked Chowdhury to enter the refund amount by typing the first six digits of his phone number in the wallet field, claiming it was a verification process.

Without suspecting foul play, Chowdhury followed the instructions and even provided his OTP to Mishra. Unfortunately, this allowed the fraudster to make four unauthorized transactions, resulting in a loss of Rs 4.9 lakh. The doctor subsequently filed a police complaint, leading to the registration of a case under IPC section 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) and section 66 D of the IT Act.


Authorities suspect that the scammers posted the fake customer care number online, luring unsuspecting victims like Chowdhury who were searching for the genuine cab company's customer care helpline. To solve the case, dedicated teams have been formed by the Delhi Police.