Quick action by 2 alert bank managers helped prevent cybercrime victims from losing more money after they noticed unusual behaviour and signs of distress during large withdrawals and transfers.
SP (cybercrime) Rahul Gupta said the managers saved over Rs 1 crore for customers who had already been cheated of over Rs 1 crore in digital arrest and investment fraud cases. He said the money was protected after the managers realised the customers had become victims of cyber fraud.
In 1 digital arrest case, a South Goa-based victim, Sanjana (name changed), visited her Canara Bank branch at Chicalim to prematurely break her fixed deposit. Branch manager Smita Rane asked why she needed the money. Sanjana said her sister urgently needed funds, but her behaviour made the manager suspicious.
The next day, Sanjana returned to open her locker and sell her gold. Rane again questioned the reason for such large transactions. Inside the bank, Sanjana began receiving repeated phone calls and started trembling. “On being questioned, she revealed that he asked her to send money immediately.”
Rane asked her to share details and show the number calling her. The calls were traced to cyber fraudsters posing as officials from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India and the Mumbai crime branch. They falsely claimed Sanjana’s SIM card was linked to illegal activities and that she was under digital arrest for the past few days, Gupta said. After counselling by the branch manager, Sanjana understood she was being cheated and immediately reported the matter to police, Gupta added.
In another case, HDFC Bank Old Goa branch manager Vinu Thomas became alert when his customer Ramesh (name changed) tried to make large RTGS transfers. Ramesh was a target of an investment fraud and appeared calm, making distress harder to spot. When asked, he said he was buying a property.
“On examining the bank statement, Thomas noticed credits from the finance institution, indicating that Ramesh had also sold gold. This raised further suspicion. Thomas contacted Ramesh later in the evening and educated him about cyber fraud,” Gupta said.
“After reflecting overnight, Ramesh consulted Thomas again the next morning and confirmed that he fell victim to an investment scam. The timely intervention prevented further financial loss,” the SP said.
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