Bengaluru Woman Claims She Lost Rs 2 Lakh Via Phone Scam Despite Not Sharing Details. Here's What Happened

The woman received a call displaying the name of a public sector bank on her caller ID. The recorded message on the call claimed that Rs 2 lakh had been transferred without authorisation.

The case has raised fresh concerns over rising phone-based cyber frauds.

Source : Pixabay

A 57-year-old woman from Bengaluru fell victim to a meticulously planned phone scam that cost her Rs 2 lakh. The incident, which took place on January 20, involved an automated call imitating a nationalised bank’s Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system, raising concerns about evolving cybercrime techniques.

How The Fraud Occurred

As reported by the Times Of India, the woman received a call displaying the name of a well-known public sector bank on her caller ID. The recorded message on the call claimed that Rs 2 lakh had been transferred from her account to another without authorisation. It prompted her to press '3' if she had authorised the transaction and '1' if she had not.

Initially stunned by the announcement, the woman hesitated but eventually pressed '1' after the message repeated multiple times. Following this, she received a further automated instruction advising her to visit her bank and contact the branch manager immediately.

Upon checking her bank account after the call, she discovered that Rs 2 lakh had indeed been debited. Alarmed by the unauthorised transaction, she rushed to the bank, where officials recommended that she file a formal complaint with the cybercrime helpline. The case was later registered with Girinagar police.

Police Investigation

As per the report, authorities investigating the matter believe that fraudsters may be deploying advanced strategies to deceive unsuspecting bank customers. Unlike traditional scams where criminals lure victims into sharing sensitive bank details such as account numbers or card information, the victim in this case reportedly did not disclose any such data during the call.

A senior police officer suggested two possibilities: either the woman unknowingly shared critical information, or scammers have found a sophisticated way to bypass traditional data theft methods. 

Cybercrime Advisory

The case has raised fresh concerns over rising phone-based cyber frauds. Experts and police officials advise the public to remain cautious of automated calls, especially those requesting confirmation of financial transactions. Victims of such frauds are urged to contact the national cybercrime helpline at 1930 without delay.

This incident highlights the growing need for awareness and stringent security measures to combat evolving cyber threats.