A 61-year-old Greater Noida man allegedly lost ₹16.8 lakh after downloading a file linked to a fake bank advertisement.
How Did the Cyber Fraud Begin?
The victim, a retired government employee, encountered a Facebook advertisement on October 16 offering life certificate submission services. The advertisement displayed the logo of a nationalised bank, giving the impression that it was connected to a legitimate banking service.
According to his complaint, he clicked the advertisement and received a telephone call from an unidentified number later that evening. The caller asked for his date of birth and bank account details before instructing him to download a file and wait for 24 hours.
Within minutes, a suspicious message appeared on his mobile phone. Suspecting that the downloaded file contained malicious software, he immediately deleted the files and checked his bank accounts.
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What Happened After the File Was Downloaded?
Police said the downloaded file allegedly gave the fraudsters access to the victim’s mobile phone. The precise technical method used to compromise the device has not been disclosed.
The following day, the victim received another WhatsApp call from the same number. Concerned about possible financial fraud, he contacted the cyber fraud helpline to block his pension account.
He subsequently received several one-time passwords relating to transactions but was informed that the necessary action had already been taken. Despite these developments, money was allegedly withdrawn from his financial accounts.
How Was ₹16.8 Lakh Withdrawn?
According to police, a substantial amount was debited from the victim’s credit card, while additional funds were withdrawn from another joint bank account.
The total reported loss was approximately ₹16.8 lakh, involving multiple transactions. Investigators are examining the unauthorised transactions and the circumstances in which the downloaded file allegedly enabled access to the victim’s phone.
The available information does not specify the number of transactions, the individual amounts withdrawn or the accounts that ultimately received the money.
What Action Have Police Taken?
Following the incident, the victim submitted a complaint through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.
Based on the complaint, a cheating case was registered under Section 318 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and relevant provisions of the Information Technology Act at the cybercrime branch police station on Thursday.
The complaint concerns the alleged use of a Facebook advertisement displaying a bank logo to persuade the victim to download a potentially malicious file and disclose personal banking information.
No arrests or recovery of the stolen money have been reported in the available details.
The420 Insight: The incident highlights the risks of advertisements that imitate legitimate banking services. Customers should verify life certificate services through official channels and avoid downloading files supplied by unknown callers. Suspected unauthorised transactions should be reported promptly to the bank and cybercrime authorities.
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