Worker duped in Rs 20 lakh loan fraud

Lokmat News Network

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

Two agents of the Navi Loan app tricked a company worker into believing he would receive a Rs 20 lakh loan but instead defrauded him of Rs 1.30 lakh. The fraud occurred between June 3 and July 7, 2024, in the Satara area.

Police identified the accused as Rakesh Anjute (Prathamesh Building, Deccan Gymkhana, Pune) and Pratik Bunty. They targeted Raghunath Kumbhar, a private company employee. On June 3, Rakesh called Kumbhar, claiming he had previously taken a loan and asked if he needed another one. Tempted by the offer, Kumbhar requested Rs 20 lakh. Rakesh then asked for multiple OTPs, which Kumbhar unknowingly shared. On July 3, Rs 83,000 was deposited into Kumbhar’s account, followed by another transaction of Rs 4.20 lakh the next day. However, when he checked, only Rs 3.83 lakh was actually available. Suspicious, he confronted Rakesh, who claimed it was a mistake and asked him to return the money to a personal account, promising to transfer the full Rs 20 lakh after the refund.

Trusting him, Kumbhar transferred an additional Rs 1.30 lakh, only to realize he had been scammed. The loan never arrived. To make matters worse, Pratik Bunty, a Navi Finance collection agent, began harassing him with repeated calls. He pressured Kumbhar to pay EMIs and even made him deposit some EMI amounts into his personal account. Realizing the fraud, Kumbhar filed a complaint at the Satara Police Station on Saturday. Authorities have registered a case and launched an investigation.

-------------------------(BOX)-------------------------

Beware of Loan App Scams!

Lokmat Times had recently published an alert about the rising number of fake loan app scams targeting unsuspecting users. Cybercriminals exploit fraudulent loan apps to trap victims, who later face harassment, threats, and financial losses. Scam apps such as Kredit Bear, Cash Mama, Rupen King, Quick Loan Pro, Flash Rupee, True Balance Loan, Lucky Rupee, Easy Loan Hub, Rapid Rupee, and Cash Advance Pro lure users with instant loan offers. However, they impose hidden fees, high interest rates, and aggressive recovery tactics, pushing borrowers into financial distress.