Influencer Falls Victim to Sophisticated Cyber Scam, Loses ₹1.1 Lakh After Clicking Fake KYC Link, Shares Awareness Video

In a stunning instance of cyber fraud, social media influencer Akanksha Thakral lost Rs 1,10,000 after becoming a victim of a high-tech cyber scam. The episode took place when she was called by a person claiming to be an Axis Bank representative, informing her that her Know Your Customer (KYC) information was awaiting verification.

How the Scam Unfolded

Thakral narrated her experience in a now-famous video, stating that she had initially informed the caller that she would get her KYC done later. The scammer kept following up in the evening, assuring her that she could get it done online and not from the bank. She then got a WhatsApp link, which led her to an Axis Bank KYC update page, which was a phishing page, where she unknowingly shared her personal information.

Within 10 minutes, she had an alert on her account showing that Rs 50,000 had been withdrawn. She panicked and tried logging out of all Unified Payments Interface (UPI) apps, but the cheats had already spent the majority of the money. She was left with only Rs 800 by the time she could do something, which she promptly transferred to a different account to keep safe.

The Hidden Threat

Subsequently, Thakral also found that the clicking of the spoof KYC link had allowed the scammers to place a message spoofing app on her phone. The malicious program provided the fraudsters with access to her financial information, enabling them to conduct the scam smoothly.

Lack of Law Enforcement Support

Conveying her irritation, Thakral stated in her video that the law enforcement authorities were not very cooperative in solving the scam. When she complained to the police and cybercrime officials, they allegedly rejected her complaint by saying, “Ma’am, we receive cases like this every day. How could a person so educated get duped like this?”

She wrote in her caption: “I lost money, but more than that, I had the sinking feeling of someone tracking my phone. I rebooted it, but that creepy feeling remained. The police weren’t helpful. They just brushed it off.”

Spreading Awareness

Resolution not to let anyone go through what she went through, Thakral asked her fans to be on their guard. “I’m sharing this story so nobody else has to experience this. Never click any link—spoofing happens. ”

Since going viral, the video of hers has invited popular debate around cyber fraud and online banking safety.

Public Reaction

Reacting to her going viral post, someone posted, “Now a days what a world we’re living in. Stay safe.”

Another user recommended, “Best trick: Lower the payment limit before doing something like this.”

A third commenter blamed the authorities, stating, “Cybercrime portals are useless. These cheats feel more secure because of that.”

How to Protect Yourself from Cyber Scams

With the increase in such scams, experts recommend the following precautions:

Never click on suspicious links sent through SMS, WhatsApp, or email.

Confirm bank calls by calling the bank’s official customer care.

Do not give out sensitive data like OTPs, passwords, or banking information.

Lower the transaction limits on your accounts to reduce possible losses.

Report any suspicious transactions to the cybercrime portal (www.cybercrime.gov.in) or call 1930 for instant help.

Cybercrime is increasing, and scammers are employing ever more sophisticated methods to cheat people. Being vigilant and well-informed is the best defense against such scams.