Hackers Target Loan Customers By Porting Registered Mobile Numbers, One Arrested

If you have taken a loan or your phone number is linked to any finance company, chances are high that scammers will try to get access of your number and take a loan or buy goods which you will have to pay for.

The revelation of this unique modus-operandi was made after the cyber crime unit of Uttar Pradesh arrested a man involved in porting the mobile number of Bajaj Finance customers and then taking a fresh loan on their name.

The incident came to light on September 19, when Lucknow’s Gomti Nagar resident Ghanshyam Tandon registered an FIR that someone ported him Airtel SIM and then used it to buy a mobile phone worth Rs 70,000 via his Bajaj Finance account.

During the investigation, police found that the scammers are conning existing customers and through social engineering skills they try to get Unique Porting Code (UPC) and then further misuse to take another loan or buy expensive goods.

Explaining the modus-operandi, Triveni Singh, superintendent of police, cyber crime, Uttar Pradesh said, “The conmen had access to details of finance company customers, which he bought from dark web. Also, he downloaded the app and randomly feed mobile numbers, if the app sends an OTP request which means the number belongs to a customer. These conmen then send a Google Form offering increase in the loan amount or rebate in interest and along with other vital details they ask the customers to share their Unique Porting Code (UPC). Many customers fall into their trap and share the number.”

A unique porting code (UPC) is generated for a subscriber who requests for Mobile Number Portability (MNP).

“Once getting the UPC, conmen issues a new SIM having the same number from the different telecom service provider. Now they apply for a fresh loan or buy expensive products and OTP is received on the new SIM. Customers remain unaware that their mobile number is misused and he has become a victim of financial fraud,” Triveni Singh said.

The man arrested in the case has been identified as Shivam Yadav from Azamgarh.

The team involved in cracking the case: Arun Kumar Mishra, Constable Piyush, Head Constable Jitendra Singh, head Constable Gaurav Srivastava, constable Sudhendhu Dikshit, Constable Shailendra Bahadur Singh and Maan Singh.