Trusting google proves costly: Cybercriminals dupe JSW executive of Rs 1.96 lakh instead of hotel booking

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

A routine online hotel booking turned into a costly mistake for a senior corporate executive when cybercriminals siphoned off Rs 1.96 lakh under the guise of a reservation.

The victim, Assistant Vice President Krishna Chandra Srivastava of JSW Green Mobility, was misled by a fraudulent contact number that appeared atop Google search results. Jawaharnagar police have registered a case and launched an investigation.JSW Green Mobility, currently investing Rs 27,200 crore over 636 acres in Bidkin, is in the early stages of its new project. Srivastava (56) was arranging accommodations for visiting senior officials and searched for the contact details of Ginger Hotel on Google. The number he found belonged not to the hotel but to scammers, one of whom posed as the hotel manager and assured him of authenticity.

Baited with a Discount

To make the offer enticing, the fraudster promised a 20% discount for online payment. He then asked Srivastava to share his credit card details, followed by an OTP to complete the transaction. The moment he entered the OTP, his bank called to verify the payment. Realizing he had been deceived, he attempted to halt the transaction, but Rs 1.90 lakh had already been transferred. Investigations by cyber police traced the funds to an account under the name "Infinity Retail."

The deception mechanism

Cybercriminals exploit SEO (Search Engine Optimization) techniques to place fake contact numbers at the top of search results, misleading unsuspecting users.

Some fraudsters pay for advertisements to ensure their numbers appear as the primary result, making them seem credible.

Precautionary measures

Always verify details directly from a hotel or company’s official website rather than relying solely on Google search results.

Do not trust the first contact number displayed on search engines without cross-checking.

Never disclose OTPs or sensitive banking information when making online payments.