Lucknow: A suspected SIM swap (SIM hijacking) cyber fraud has come to light in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, where cybercriminals allegedly siphoned off nearly ₹4.5 lakh from two bank accounts after taking control of the victim’s mobile number. The fraud reportedly remained undetected for nearly two weeks as the victim stopped receiving OTPs and SMS alerts related to banking transactions.
According to police, the victim was on a pilgrimage to Haridwar on June 3 when he received a phone call from an unidentified person. The caller claimed that an OTP had been sent to his mobile number and warned that his SIM card would be deactivated unless the OTP was shared. The victim refused to disclose the OTP.
Shortly afterward, his mobile SIM suddenly stopped functioning. The complainant alleged that cyber fraudsters subsequently gained control of his mobile number and accessed his two bank accounts maintained at the Mohanlalganj branch.
Investigators found that between June 5 and June 21, the accused allegedly carried out multiple unauthorized transactions, withdrawing nearly ₹4.5 lakh from the accounts. Since the original SIM had become inactive, the victim did not receive any transaction alerts or OTPs related to the withdrawals.
The fraud came to light only after the victim obtained his bank account statements. He then lodged a complaint at Mohanlalganj Police Station, following which an FIR was registered and an investigation was initiated.
Police are examining the bank accounts, transaction trail, beneficiary accounts, and the circumstances under which the victim’s SIM was allegedly taken over. Investigators are also probing whether an organized cybercrime network was involved in the fraud.
According to the preliminary investigation, SIM swap fraud typically involves criminals first obtaining a victim’s mobile number and personal information. They then trick the victim into sharing an OTP or fraudulently obtain a duplicate SIM from the telecom operator using forged identity details. Once the duplicate SIM is activated, the original SIM stops working, allowing fraudsters to receive all calls, SMS messages, and OTPs. They then use intercepted OTPs to access bank accounts, UPI applications, email accounts, and other online services before transferring or withdrawing funds.
Cybercrime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh said that if a mobile SIM suddenly stops working or loses network connectivity without any apparent reason, it should not be dismissed as a routine technical issue. He advised users to immediately contact their telecom operator from another phone to verify whether the SIM has been swapped, temporarily block their bank accounts and payment cards, change passwords for banking and digital accounts, and promptly report the incident through the National Cyber Crime Helpline (1930) or the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. He said swift action can significantly reduce financial losses in such cyber fraud cases.
