It was just another typical day for Neha, a young woman living in Hyderabad. She had recently moved to a new city and was looking for a way to make her apartment work for her.
After all, the rent was high, and living alone meant she could barely afford the rent with her modest salary.
One evening, after finishing her work, she decided to take a few minutes to relax.
Scrolling through the Quikr app, she posted an advertisement for her apartment to find a potential tenant.
Little did she know that small act would soon pull her into the web of a clever scam.
The First Message: A Simple Interest
It wasn’t long before her phone buzzed with a message.
“Hi Neha, I saw your listing on Quikr. I’m interested in renting your flat. I’m in the army and will be relocating soon. My accountant will handle all the formalities. Is that okay with you?”
Neha, just wanting to wrap up her day, thought this was a pretty standard inquiry.
“Sure! Sounds good. Please let me know the next steps,” she replied, not giving it much thought.
The Accountant Arrives: The First Hint of Something Off
Within moments, she got a follow-up message. This time, it was from the so-called “accountant.”
“Hello, I’m Rahul, and I’ll be handling the payment. The process we use is different from the usual.
We’ll be using a ‘reversal model’ for the payments, which involves a small transfer first.
Once we confirm the payment, the full rent amount will be processed,” the message read.
Neha, who had heard of reverse payment models in the past, thought this was just a routine process. She was cautious, but the legitimacy of the army connection made her feel at ease.
“Alright, I’ll follow the process. Please let me know the next steps,” Neha replied, feeling a little more reassured.
The First Payment: The Reversal
Soon after, she received instructions from Rahul to send ₹5 as the first step in the “reversal” process.
“Don’t worry, Neha. We’ll send it back to you right away. Just transfer ₹5 first to confirm, and we’ll proceed.”
She followed the instructions and transferred the ₹5.
And true to his word, the ₹5 was instantly reversed back into her account. Neha was impressed. It all seemed so legitimate.
If this was the scam, then it was smoother than she had imagined.
The Next Step: The Larger Amount
Feeling confident, Neha proceeded to send a larger amount—₹50,000—when asked.
“Please transfer ₹50,000 now, and the full rent will be refunded within a few minutes,” Rahul explained in the message. “The system just requires this step to verify the transaction.”
With the initial transfer being reversed smoothly, she thought, “This can’t be wrong.”
Minutes turned into hours, but the refund never came.
Then, another message popped up.
“Neha, we’re facing some technical issues with the system. Don’t worry, just send the full amount now, and we’ll complete the process.”
At this point, Neha felt something wasn’t right, but she was too far gone into the scam to back out. “This must be normal,” she reassured herself. “I’ll get it back soon enough.”
The Realization: ₹1.3 Lakh Gone
Before long, the total amount transferred crossed ₹1.3 lakh. The payments kept coming, and the promises kept piling up.
But then, silence. Neha’s messages went unanswered. No calls, no refunds. The so-called “army officer” and his “accountant” were gone. And just like that, Neha realized she had fallen into the trap.
The Moment of Clarity
Sitting at her desk, Neha stared at her phone screen, her hands trembling. “How did this happen? How could I have been so gullible?” she thought.
She immediately contacted the authorities, reporting the scam. But, like so many others, it was already too late. The money had disappeared into the black hole of the scammer’s account.
What Went Wrong?
Looking back, Neha realized where things went wrong. It wasn’t just one red flag, but a series of clever manipulations:
- False Authority: The scammer posed as an army personnel, someone she would naturally trust.
- Familiarity: The reversal payment method seemed legitimate and in line with payment systems she was used to.
- Manipulation: The scammer made her feel secure by returning small amounts, leading her to believe the larger sums would be refunded too.
What We Can Learn from Neha’s Story
If Neha had questioned the process earlier, maybe things would have turned out differently. But scams like this are designed to prey on human nature—trust, hope, and the desire to be in control of a transaction.
In situations like these, it’s essential to:
- Always verify the identity of people you’re dealing with, especially in financial transactions.
- Never send money upfront—especially when it’s promised to be refunded.
- Report suspicious activity immediately, before the scammers have the chance to disappear.
Final Thoughts
Neha’s experience is one of many that people face every day in the world of online scams.
It’s easy to blame someone for falling for these tactics, but the truth is, cybercriminals are getting better at what they do.
The best thing we can do is stay vigilant, keep questioning, and help others spot the signs of fraud before they lose their hard-earned money.
