Automobile engineer loses Rs 4.37 lakh in loan app scam in Udupi district

It all started with the man availing himself of Rs 12,000 as a short-term loan through the mobile app

Udupi: A 33-year-old automobile engineer from Gundmi in Brahmavar taluk of Udupi district has allegedly lost Rs 4.37 lakh to cyberfraudsters after applying for a short-term loan through a mobile app.

In his complaint, Ranjan Shettigar said he had financial difficulties and applied for a seven-day loan through the 'Smart Rupiya Online Loan App' in the last week of October. He submitted his Aadhaar and PAN details, a selfie photo, mobile location and mobile contact details and received Rs 12,000. He repaid the loan amount within six days.

Later, he was lured into borrowing more through the same app. Unknown cyberfraudsters, using WhatsApp and Telegram, contacted him. They allegedly threatened to misuse and upload his personal mobile data on social media if he failed to pay.

Fearing this, he ended up transferring a total of Rs 4,37,253 in various transactions.

The Kota police have registered a case under Sections 66(c) and 66(d) of the IT Act.