How many of you buy clothes online, try them on, and return what doesn’t fit or suit you? It’s a common practice these days.
But imagine losing your entire bank balance while trying to claim a refund for a returned item. Sounds terrifying, doesn’t it?
That’s exactly what happened to a man from Assam, who ended up losing ₹94,000 while attempting to return a blazer he purchased online from Louis Philippe.
Here’s the story of how a simple return turned into a cyber nightmare—and what you can learn from it.
The Purchase That Led to a Nightmare
It all began in 2021, a year when Louis Philippe, a popular men’s apparel brand with over 7 lakh monthly visitors, suffered a website breach. This cyberattack leaked the personal information of countless customers, setting the stage for scams.
During this time, the victim bought a blazer worth ₹4,000 but decided to return it. Shortly after initiating the return, he received a call from someone claiming to be a Louis Philippe customer support executive. The caller assured him that the return could only be processed if he downloaded their app.
Unaware of the upcoming danger, the victim followed the instructions and downloaded the app from the link sent by the fraudster.
Within moments, ₹94,204.80 was wiped out of his State Bank of India (SBI) account. The victim, instead of receiving a refund, was left with an unwanted blazer and a vacant bank account.
The Panic and the Blame Game
Shocked and panicked, the victim immediately contacted SBI customer support.
The bank took quick action to block his ATM card and account, but by then, the money had already been transferred. It was routed through multiple accounts, starting with a Federal Bank account and a Jupiter NEO savings account, making it nearly impossible to trace.
When the victim demanded a refund, SBI refused to take responsibility, stating that the fraudulent transactions were made via Google Pay, a third-party app not recommended by the bank.
The bank placed all the blame on the victim, stating that the transactions were made using an external payment app, which the bank warned against using.
The Long Road to Justice
Determined not to give up, the victim filed an FIR with the local police and complained to the Cyber Fraud Cell.
But the response was slow and unsatisfactory. He then escalated the matter to the RBI Banking Ombudsman. Unfortunately, he received the same response: the bank was not liable.
Left with no choice, the victim took the matter to the High Court. After a thorough review, the court held SBI accountable for not acting promptly despite the victim’s timely report. The bank was ordered to refund the full amount.
SBI, unwilling to accept the verdict, appealed to the Supreme Court. But justice finally prevailed. After four long years, the victim received his refund, though at a significant emotional and financial cost.
The Lesson: Stay Vigilant to Avoid Cyber Fraud
This case serves as a stark reminder of how an immediate judgment or action can lead to a devastating financial loss. It also highlights the challenges victims face when seeking justice in cases of cyber fraud.
To protect yourself:
- Never trust unsolicited calls or emails asking you to download apps or click on unknown links.
- Verify the authenticity of customer service calls by contacting the company directly through official channels.
- Enable transaction alerts and set daily transaction limits on your accounts to minimize potential losses.
- Act quickly in case of fraud by reporting it to your bank and filing a complaint with the Cyber Crime Cell.
Remember, cyber fraudsters thrive on unawareness and haste. A moment of vigilance can save you years of stress.
