In an age where smartphones have become indispensable, scam calls and phishing texts remain an omnipresent nuisance. However, a fresh twist on this issue emerged from Gurgaon, where a software engineer used his tech skills to deliver a clever retort to a scammer. The story of the viral encounter has sparked widespread amusement on social media.
Gaurav Sharan, a cybersecurity analyst, recently shared screenshots of a scam attempt masked as a routine communication from HDFC Bank. The fraudster’s scheme was to trick the user into updating his PAN details through a fraudulent link.
Instead of falling victim to the ploy, the user turned the situation into an opportunity to outwit the scammer. With a deft blend of humour, the user proposed to “redesign” the scammer’s fake website—for a price of Rs 20,000.
"Easy to find it is a scamming website. I am a software engineer, I can help you redesign the page. For 20K, I will help you redesign exactly like the HDFC net banking site," Sharan wrote in his reply.
This unexpected counter-offer exposed the scam. The scammer, perhaps bemused or intrigued, requested a sample of the redesigned site via WhatsApp.
The exchange, which Sharan shared on social media platform X with the caption, “Lesson: Never mess with a developer,” quickly captivated users.
The tweet, featuring screenshots of the conversation, can be viewed here:
While the online response has been overwhelmingly positive, sparking laughter and admiration, it has also stirred debate. Critics argue about the ethics of engaging with scammers and the decision to obscure the scammer’s phone number, questioning whether it was an attempt to protect their privacy. Others have pointed out that similar screenshots have circulated before, raising concerns about originality.
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