On August 23, Gajran Singh of Atroli, Aligarh, misplaced his mobile phone outside his home. Within hours, the device fell into unknown hands. Over the next two days, the thieves exploited the phone to register a new UPI account, conducting 15 separate transactions that drained ₹2.05 lakh from Singh’s bank account. The fraud came to light on August 26, when withdrawal notifications began arriving on Singh’s alternate mobile number. He realized his lost phone had become a tool for digital crime.
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Police Action
Inspector Surendra Kumar of the Cyber Crime Unit confirmed that a case has been registered and investigations are underway. Preliminary findings indicate the perpetrators inserted a new SIM card into the stolen phone, re-registered UPI, and accessed linked bank information to siphon the funds. Authorities are tracing the digital footprints to identify and apprehend the offenders.
Expert Insights on Digital Vulnerability
Former IPS officer and cybercrime expert Prof. Triveni Singh emphasized, “A mobile phone today is more than a communication device; it is a full digital wallet. Criminals can exploit it not only to access bank accounts but to compromise the entire financial ecosystem. Immediate reporting to banks, SIM providers, and police is essential. Delay can be extremely costly.” She noted that fraudsters often target phones with pre-installed banking apps or numbers linked to bank accounts, highlighting the fragile state of digital financial security.
Precautions and Warnings
The Aligarh incident serves as a stern reminder of the intersection between digital convenience and cybercrime. Security experts advise:
Immediately block the SIM linked to bank accounts after loss or theft.
Enable biometric locks and two-factor authentication for UPI and banking apps.
Avoid linking multiple apps unnecessarily to bank accounts.
Aligarh’s case underscores that a single stolen mobile can become a gateway for large-scale financial fraud, emphasizing the critical need for vigilance in the digital era.