In a chilling reminder of the evolving tactics of cybercriminals, a Chandigarh resident lost ₹8 lakh from her fixed deposit account after falling prey to an online scam. Police have launched an investigation under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) following the victim’s formal complaint.
A Routine Day Turns into Financial Nightmare
What began as an ordinary day for the victim, a resident of Sector 39-B, Chandigarh, quickly spiraled into a financial crisis. On February 28, 2025, victim received a text message stating that ₹2 lakh had been debited from her bank account a message she initially dismissed as an error.
However, within moments, her mobile buzzed again — two separate OTPs arrived, hinting at further transactions. Alarmed, Mahajan and her husband rushed to their bank branch, only to discover that ₹8 lakh had been siphoned off from her fixed deposit account — funds that were originally due to mature in 2026.
Bank officials acted promptly, freezing the account to prevent further losses and safeguarding the remaining balance. But the emotional and financial damage had already been done. It felt like the ground slipped from beneath us, victim later said in her statement to the police.
How Cybercriminals Breached the Fixed Deposit
Unlike traditional bank accounts, fixed deposits are generally considered safe, owing to their structured withdrawal processes. However, in this case, cybercriminals reportedly manipulated the linked mobile number and online access mechanisms to initiate unauthorised withdrawals.
According to cybersecurity experts familiar with such cases, fraudsters often use phishing tactics — sending fake links or malware that silently harvest bank credentials and OTPs from unsuspecting users’ devices. Once access is secured, they can bypass standard security barriers, even targeting instruments like fixed deposits, which usually require extra layers of authentication.
The fact that multiple OTPs were generated shows that the attackers were able to orchestrate withdrawals systematically in a short span, pointing to a highly coordinated cyberattack, said a senior police official connected to the investigation.
Legal Action Under New Criminal Law Framework
Following victim’s complaint to the Chandigarh cyber cell, a formal First Information Report (FIR) was lodged at the concerned police station. The case has been registered under the newly implemented Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the successor to the Indian Penal Code (IPC), reflecting the gravity of cyber-enabled financial crimes. The charges include:
- Section 319(2) – Cheating by personation
- Section 318(4) – Cheating
- Section 336(3) – Forgery
- Section 338 – Forgery of valuable security, will, etc.
- Section 340(2) – Using forged documents or electronic records as genuine
- Section 61(2) – Criminal conspiracy
Police officials confirmed that a preliminary inquiry has already been completed and that a dedicated cybercrime team is tracking digital footprints, including mobile tower data, IP logs, and transactional trails, to identify the culprits.
Authorities have advised citizens to immediately verify any suspicious transactions, avoid clicking on unknown links, and report cyber incidents promptly to helplines like 1930.
