Patna: Cybercriminals are preying on public sympathy by creating fake charity apps and websites in the name of disaster relief, duping thousands of people across Bihar.
In the past month alone, fraudsters have siphoned off lakhs of rupees from the bank accounts of more than 20,500 people in the state, according to officials. Many were targeted with appeals linked to the recent cloudbursts and landslides in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Similar scams also circulated under the guise of flood relief for districts in Bihar.
The department of telecommunications has warned the public to remain vigilant, revealing that between 15 and 20 fake organisations have been set up in just six weeks. Criminals are exploiting social media, emails, text messages and phone calls, using images and videos of disaster zones to lend credibility to their appeals.
Officials said fraudsters typically swing into action within 48 hours of a natural calamity, launching websites that mimic genuine relief efforts. Victims who attempted to donate online often found their accounts drained shortly afterwards. Losses have ranged from Rs 5,000 to over Rs 100,000.
Women have been disproportionately affected, with more than 12,600 of the 20,500 victims female, collectively losing nearly Rs 10 lakh. Many were government employees, including officials in the Patna secretariat, electricity department and collectorate, who were deceived after receiving WhatsApp messages that appeared to come from trusted contacts. Business people have also been singled out, making them among the hardest-hit groups.
