Cybercriminals are constantly devising new methods to deceive unsuspecting individuals through counterfeit websites and fraudulent social media profiles. One of the most persistent schemes is the “father’s friend” ruse, where scammers impersonate someone close to the victim’s family to build trust and manipulate them into revealing private details or transferring money. However, a recent incident involving a perceptive teenager is making waves online, showcasing how awareness and quick thinking can thwart even the most convincing scams.
A clip circulating on X captures a teenage girl interacting with a fraudster who falsely claimed to be an old acquaintance of her father. Sensing something was amiss, she cleverly played along to buy time. The con artist tried to convince her that her father had instructed him to send money to her bank account via UPI. He confidently stated he was about to transfer ₹12,000 using the payment platform.
The fraudster then claimed he had sent ₹10,000 and backed it up with a fabricated SMS—one that appeared to be from a regular phone number instead of an official bank channel. In his next move, he attempted to dupe her by saying he had accidentally sent ₹20,000 instead of ₹2,000, and requested she return ₹18,000. But the sharp-minded teen turned the tables. She modified the phony message to show that she had already transferred ₹18,000 back, and forwarded it to him, calmly asserting, “I’ve sent you the ₹18,000.”
Taken aback, the scammer realized he had been outsmarted. He sheepishly conceded with the words, “Maan gaya main aapko, beta” (translated: “I admit defeat, child”) before quickly ending the call.
The video quickly gained traction on social media, with users applauding the teen’s intelligence and presence of mind. Many commented with admiration, sharing that they too had received similar suspicious messages and calls. One user remarked, “Incredibly smart girl with a sharp mind.” Another noted, “She handled it like a pro.” A third chimed in, “This has happened to me too—I’ve had to talk my way out of it several times.”
Some viewers questioned why people still trust text messages instead of verifying directly through the UPI application, which takes only a few seconds.
This event serves as a timely reminder of the growing sophistication of online scams and the importance of being alert, skeptical, and cautious when dealing with unknown individuals online.
A clip circulating on X captures a teenage girl interacting with a fraudster who falsely claimed to be an old acquaintance of her father. Sensing something was amiss, she cleverly played along to buy time. The con artist tried to convince her that her father had instructed him to send money to her bank account via UPI. He confidently stated he was about to transfer ₹12,000 using the payment platform.
The fraudster then claimed he had sent ₹10,000 and backed it up with a fabricated SMS—one that appeared to be from a regular phone number instead of an official bank channel. In his next move, he attempted to dupe her by saying he had accidentally sent ₹20,000 instead of ₹2,000, and requested she return ₹18,000. But the sharp-minded teen turned the tables. She modified the phony message to show that she had already transferred ₹18,000 back, and forwarded it to him, calmly asserting, “I’ve sent you the ₹18,000.”
Kalesh prevented by girl while talking to Scammer pic.twitter.com/d8sNRwjASy
— Ghar Ke Kalesh (@gharkekalesh) April 13, 2025
Taken aback, the scammer realized he had been outsmarted. He sheepishly conceded with the words, “Maan gaya main aapko, beta” (translated: “I admit defeat, child”) before quickly ending the call.
The video quickly gained traction on social media, with users applauding the teen’s intelligence and presence of mind. Many commented with admiration, sharing that they too had received similar suspicious messages and calls. One user remarked, “Incredibly smart girl with a sharp mind.” Another noted, “She handled it like a pro.” A third chimed in, “This has happened to me too—I’ve had to talk my way out of it several times.”
Some viewers questioned why people still trust text messages instead of verifying directly through the UPI application, which takes only a few seconds.
This event serves as a timely reminder of the growing sophistication of online scams and the importance of being alert, skeptical, and cautious when dealing with unknown individuals online.
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