A 70-year-old man in Pune has reportedly lost ₹4.81 lakh after responding to a WhatsApp message offering pension card registration, highlighting the risks posed by fraudulent messages that exploit people’s interest in pension benefits. Police have registered a case and are investigating the alleged financial fraud, but the individuals responsible have not yet been identified, according to the supplied report.
The incident is one of two reported cases involving elderly pensioners and misleading pension card offers. Together, the reported losses amount to ₹9.81 lakh.
How the Pune Pension Card Fraud Allegedly Happened
The victim, identified as Dilip Eknath Waikar, lives in the Pashan area of Pune, Maharashtra. According to the report, he received a WhatsApp message about pension card registration between September 8 and 9, 2026.
The message allegedly instructed him to open the communication and provide his bank account details to complete the registration process. After following the instructions, Waikar discovered that ₹4.81 lakh had been withdrawn from his account without authorisation.
The incident falls under the jurisdiction of Baner police station. The reported sequence highlights how messages that appear to offer access to financial benefits can be used to persuade recipients to disclose sensitive information.
However, the available information does not establish whether the fraud involved a fake registration website, a malicious link, or another method of obtaining the victim’s banking details.
Police Register Case Under BNS and IT Act
Following the complaint, Baner police registered a case under Sections 318(4) and 318(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Section 66D of the Information Technology Act, as stated in the supplied report.
No arrests have been reported, and the suspected individuals have not yet been identified. Investigators are examining the alleged use of pension-related messages to obtain banking information and facilitate unauthorised transactions.
The investigation’s outcome, including the route through which the money was transferred and whether any amount can be recovered, remains unclear from the information provided.
Similar Pension Card Scam Reported in Ahmedabad
A separate incident reported in September involved a 72-year-old retired bank employee from Makarba, Ahmedabad. In that case, the pensioner reportedly came across a Facebook advertisement promoting a pension card said to be issued by a bank.
After submitting an application through the advertisement’s link, he received a phone call the following day from an unidentified person who claimed that his application had been approved. The caller allegedly requested personal and banking information.
The pensioner subsequently received an email notification concerning an unauthorised transaction of ₹5 lakh. He contacted the national cybercrime helpline, 1930, and approached Sarkhej police. According to the report, the money had been transferred to an account maintained with Punjab National Bank.
Although the two cases involved different platforms, both reportedly used pension-related offers to encourage older people to share sensitive information. The available details do not establish that either incident was connected to a legitimate pension card scheme.
Warning Signs in Pension-Related Online Offers
Fraudulent messages can imitate the language of government benefits, bank services or registration processes. A message may appear convincing because it refers to a familiar institution or promises access to a financial benefit.
People should be cautious when an unsolicited message or advertisement asks them to provide bank account details, passwords, OTPs, card information or other sensitive credentials. They should independently verify pension schemes through official government or bank channels rather than relying on links or telephone numbers supplied in an unexpected message.
Older adults may also benefit from discussing unfamiliar financial offers with a trusted family member before submitting personal information online. Banks and legitimate service providers should be contacted through independently verified channels whenever a message raises doubts.
For businesses and individuals reviewing financial risks, financial investigation services may be relevant to understanding suspicious transactions and financial irregularities.
What to Do If Money Is Lost to an Online Scam
Anyone who discovers an unauthorised transaction should contact their bank immediately to report it and ask what steps can be taken to secure the account and dispute the transaction. In India, suspected cyber financial fraud can also be reported through the national cybercrime helpline 1930 and the official portal at cybercrime.gov.in.
Prompt reporting can help authorities and financial institutions respond quickly, although recovery of the money is not guaranteed. Victims should preserve relevant messages, transaction alerts, bank statements and other evidence for the investigation.
Conclusion
The reported Pune and Ahmedabad incidents show how pension-related messages and advertisements can be exploited in alleged online financial fraud. With reported losses totalling ₹9.81 lakh, the cases underline the importance of verifying benefit schemes independently and avoiding the disclosure of banking information in response to unsolicited communications.
The Pune investigation remains ongoing based on the supplied report, and the identities of the suspects and the possibility of recovering the funds have not been confirmed.