A 42-year-old woman named Saroj Jain from Gujarat’s Kathlal, Kheda District, fell victim to an online betting scam, losing a significant amount of Rs 1 lakh. The scam was orchestrated through a platform known as Probo, which allegedly exploited the participation of her 14-year-old son, Sumit, in a prediction game on her smartphone.
According to the FIR lodged by Saroj, the incident began on February 16 when Sumit informed her about his involvement in an online game on Probo. He had earned a modest reward of Rs 40 after successfully answering a series of questions on the application. Encouraged by this initial success, Sumit continued his engagement with the platform, earning another Rs 40 reward on the night of February 26.
The situation took a drastic turn the next morning when Saroj received an OTP (One-Time Password) on her mobile device. Unaware of the implications, Sumit disclosed the OTP to an unidentified caller. Later, Saroj discovered that Rs 1 lakh had been fraudulently withdrawn from her linked bank account.
Upon realizing the severity of the situation, Saroj immediately reported the incident to the Kathlal police. The authorities registered a complaint under sections of the Indian Penal Code pertaining to cheating, along with charges outlined in the Information Technology Act.
Interestingly, Probo Media Technologies, the platform in question, has previously faced legal scrutiny. Haryana’s tax department recently issued a notice of Rs 1,500 crore to the company, accusing it of tax evasion and misrepresentation. Furthermore, Mumbai police took action against Probo in July 2022 for facilitating gambling.
In light of such incidents, it is crucial to educate family members about potential online scams and the importance of safeguarding personal information. Enabling two-factor authentication for sensitive accounts, regularly monitoring bank statements for suspicious activity, installing reputable security software on devices, using strong, unique passwords, and staying updated on common online scams are some of the measures that can help remain vigilant against fraudsters’ tactics. It is also advisable to verify the legitimacy of online platforms before engaging and exercise caution when encountering unfamiliar requests to mitigate the risk of falling victim to scams.
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