Shocking BEER scam! Man loses Rs. 44782 on WhatsApp while ordering Rs. 360 worth booze

tech.hindustantimes.com:

Online scammers are adapting new tricks and techniques to con users and steal money in every possible way. In a recent unfortunate incident, a 24-year-old lawyer from a southern Mumbai-based law firm was duped of Rs. 44782 in multiple online transactions by a scammer, Hindustan Times report mentioned. The incident took a shocking turn as the fraudster masqueraded as a wine shop owner and scammed the victim while promising to deliver two beer bottles.

The victim searched on the internet for local wine shops to order beer on October 26, 2022, and then he found a contact of a shop nearby, the report quoted police. When he called, it was not answered. However, within a few minutes, the fraudster called him back and asked to place an online order via WhatsApp call. First, the lawyer placed an order for only one beer bottle, but when he was told that they accept at least two bottles, then the victim placed an order worth of Rs. 360 for two beer bottles. Thereafter, the fraudster sent a QR code on WhatsApp chats to make the payment along with Rs. 30 extra charges for delivery, a police officer said.

And here, the fraudster begins the plan to dupe the man of his money. The accused called the victim again and requested him to pay an amount of Rs. 4999 on a payment app to generate a bill along with an assurance that money will not be deducted. But sadly, the victim followed the instructions and Rs. 499 and Rs. 4999 were debited from his account. The situation got worse when he asked for refund. The fraudster kept asking the lawyer to scan the QR code and he did so repeatedly!

Apparently, the victim followed the instructions to get his refund but instead ended up losing money to the tune of Rs. 44782 from his account after eight