Influencer Shares Video Warning Others After Losing ₹1.1 Lakh to Cyber Scam via Fake KYC Link

Influencer Akanksha Thakral recently fell victim to a sophisticated cyber scam, losing ₹1,10,000 after responding to a call from a scammer posing as an Axis Bank official. She shared her experience in a now-viral video, warning others about the dangers of fraudulent KYC verification scams.

According to Thakral, the caller initially claimed that her KYC update was pending. When she mentioned she would complete it later, the scammer called again in the evening, insisting that she could do it remotely without visiting the bank. She then received a WhatsApp link directing her to a fake Axis Bank KYC update page, where she unknowingly entered her details.

Within 10 minutes, she received an alert that ₹50,000 had been debited from her account. Panicked, she attempted to log out of all UPI apps, but before she could react, more money was withdrawn, leaving her with just ₹800, which she quickly transferred to another account.

Later, she discovered that clicking the fraudulent KYC link had allowed the scammer to install a message spoofing app on her phone, granting them access to her financial details.

Thakral also expressed frustration over the lack of support from law enforcement, stating that the police and cybercrime officials were dismissive. She recalled how they brushed off her case, saying, "Ma'am, we get cases like this every day. How could someone so educated fall for this?"

In her caption, she warned others, saying, "I lost money, but more than that, I had that sinking feeling of someone tracking my phone. I rebooted it, but that creepy feeling remained. The police weren't helpful. I'm sharing my story so no one else goes through this. Never click on any link-message spoofing is real."

The viral video has sparked conversations online, with many users sharing their thoughts. One user commented, "Nowadays, what world are we living in? Be safe." Another suggested, "Best trick-reduce the payment limit before doing anything like this." A third user criticized the cybercrime system, saying, "Cybercrime portal is good for nothing. These scammers are more confident because of that."

Thakral's experience serves as a stark reminder to stay vigilant against online fraud and never click on suspicious links.