India runs the world’s largest biometric digital identity programme — called “Aadhaar”, or foundation in Hindi — a unique card issued to India’s more than one billion people, and increasingly required for financial transactions.
Scammers often claim they are police investigating questionable payments, quoting their target’s Aadhaar number to appear genuine.
They then request their victim make a “temporary” bank transfer to validate their accounts, before stealing the cash.
Singh, from India’s eastern state of Bihar, said the web of lies began when he received a call in December, seemingly from the telecom regulatory authority.
“They said… police were on their way to arrest me,” Singh said.
The fraudsters told Singh that his Aadhaar ID was being misused for illegal payments.
Terrified, Singh agreed to prove he had control of his bank account, and after spiralling threats, transferred over $16,100.
“I have lost sleep, don’t feel like eating,” he said. “I have been ruined.”
‘Rot in proverbial hell’
The surge of online scams is worrying because of “how valid they make it look and sound”, said police officer Sushil Kumar, who handled cybercrimes for half a decade.
The perpetrators range from school dropouts to highly educated individuals.
