Bengaluru woman loses over Rs 87,000 in airport lounge scam: Here's what happened

A woman traveling through Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru became the victim of an elaborate scam, losing over Rs 87,000 in a fraud scheme linked to lounge access.

The woman, identified as Bhargavi Mani, shared her ordeal in a now-viral video, raising awareness about the deceptive tactics employed by scammers. Mani explained that she couldn't find her physical credit card, so she tried to enter the airport lounge by presenting a photo of the card to the staff.

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A post shared by Kolam Podu® with Bhargavii Mani (@kolampodu)

Instead of traditional verification methods, the lounge staff reportedly directed Ms. Mani to download a specific app and complete a facial scan for "security purposes." Trusting the staff, Mani downloaded the app, later identified as "Lounge Pass." However, she opted not to use the lounge and decided to grab coffee at Starbucks instead.

Later, Mani noticed she was unable to receive phone calls, initially attributing it to network issues. However, the situation turned alarming when she realised strangers were answering her calls. Upon investigation, Ms. Mani discovered unauthorised transactions totalling over Rs 87,000 had been made on her credit card, transferred to a PhonePe account.

She suspects the downloaded app was a malware program that allowed the scammers to access her phone, redirect her calls, and intercept one-time passwords (OTPs) used for online transactions. Mani has since reported the incident to the cybercrime department, alerted her bank, and blocked her credit card to prevent further losses.

Here are some safety tips to remember:

• Never download apps from unknown sources.
• Be wary of requests for facial recognition or unusual verification methods.
• Do not share sensitive information like credit card details or OTPs with strangers.
• If unsure about lounge access procedures, contact the airport authorities directly.