Rs 19 Payment Scam: Cybercriminals Dupe Man of ₹8.6 Lakhs Under the Guise of Water Bill

A man in Ranchi, India, was defrauded of ₹8.6 lakhs in a sophisticated cyber scam disguised as a water bill payment. The victim received a WhatsApp message with the Ranchi Municipal Corporation logo, threatening to disconnect his water supply if he didn’t pay the outstanding bill. The message included a phone number to contact for more information. Upon calling the number, the caller, posing as a municipal representative, instructed the man to download an application and make a payment of ₹19 to update his profile. After making the small payment, the victim’s account was drained of ₹8.6 lakhs in multiple transactions. He immediately reported the incident to the cybercrime police station in Ranchi, who are investigating the case.