Over 500 people have been defrauded of Rs 60 lakh (approximately $80,000 USD) in the Indian state of Uttarakhand’s Udham Singh Nagar district. The scam was carried out by cyber criminals who tricked their victims into providing personal information and making payments under the pretext of offering loans at low-interest rates.

The criminals operated through fake websites and phone numbers, and they would send links via WhatsApp to their victims. Once the victims clicked on the links, they were directed to websites that looked like legitimate loan providers. However, once the victims provided their personal information and paid the processing fee, the criminals disappeared, and the victims were unable to reach them.

The police have launched an investigation into the matter and have urged the public to be cautious while dealing with unknown persons or websites that claim to provide loans at low-interest rates. They have also advised people not to share their personal information, or bank account details or make any payments to unknown persons or websites.

This incident highlights the importance of being cautious while dealing with unknown persons or websites online. It is important to verify the authenticity of a website or person before providing any personal information or making any payments. One should also avoid clicking on links sent by unknown persons, as they may contain malware or lead to fake websites. It is always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to online transactions.