In a stark reminder of the growing audacity of cybercriminals, a serving police personnel in Mumbai has fallen victim to a sophisticated digital fraud in which his mobile phone was allegedly hacked, leading to the fraudulent sanction of a ₹4.12 lakh personal loan in his name. The entire amount was swiftly transferred online to another bank account, triggering a criminal investigation under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita and the Information Technology Act.
Certified Cyber Crime Investigator Course Launched by Centre for Police Technology
The incident came to light when the victim, posted in the Mumbai suburban region, was on municipal election vote-counting duty. According to the complaint, he resides with his family in a suburban locality and receives his salary in a private sector bank account. While on duty, he was alerted by a colleague that repeated phone calls made to him were getting diverted to an unknown number, with an unfamiliar voice responding from the other end.
Alarmed by this unusual development, the victim checked his mobile handset, which he had kept in his pocket during duty hours. He then noticed a series of unexpected bank alerts and transaction-related messages, raising immediate suspicion of a cyber breach. Fearing financial fraud, he promptly approached his bank branch and reported the matter.
Upon verification of account records, bank officials informed him that a personal loan amounting to ₹4,12,045 had been sanctioned and credited to his account without any physical verification or explicit loan application from his end. Within a short span, the funds were transferred out through three separate online transactions, effectively draining the account.
Further scrutiny revealed that the money had been routed to an account maintained with Ujjivan Small Finance Bank, registered in the name of Manish Kumar. Based on preliminary findings, investigators have treated this account as the primary recipient of the defrauded amount and registered a case against the named account holder, while continuing efforts to trace the broader network involved.
The victim has categorically stated that he never applied for any loan, digitally or otherwise, nor did he share his credentials or authorise any third party to act on his behalf. Following confirmation of the fraud, the bank immediately froze his savings account as a precautionary measure to prevent further unauthorised transactions. An internal review has also been initiated to determine how the loan was approved without robust verification checks.
Seeking formal redressal, the victim approached the bank’s loan department to lodge a written complaint and questioned the lapse in due diligence. He also registered a complaint with the national cybercrime helpline number 1930, in line with standard protocol for digital fraud cases, before submitting a detailed complaint at the local police station.
Investigators believe the crime may involve advanced techniques such as SIM swapping, call forwarding manipulation, and unauthorised access to banking applications. The possibility of phishing attacks or malware infiltration is also being examined. Digital forensics teams are analysing the transaction trail to identify whether the siphoned funds were further layered or transferred to additional accounts.
The case has reignited concerns over the safety of instant digital loan platforms and mobile-based banking systems, especially as cybercriminals increasingly exploit gaps in authentication and identity verification. Experts caution that attackers are now targeting mobile access itself, enabling them to intercept calls, messages and one-time passwords without the victim’s immediate knowledge.
Police sources confirmed that efforts are underway to trace the accused, track the money trail and identify any accomplices involved in the operation. Authorities have maintained that strict action will be taken once the full extent of the cyber fraud network is uncovered.
As digital transactions become more deeply embedded in daily life, the incident serves as a cautionary tale, underscoring the urgent need for stronger cybersecurity safeguards, tighter banking protocols and heightened public awareness against evolving online threats.
About the author – Ayesha Aayat is a law student and contributor covering cybercrime, online frauds, and digital safety concerns. Her writing aims to raise awareness about evolving cyber threats and legal responses.
