Haridwar – News Desk: A shocking case of financial fraud has surfaced in Haridwar, where a young man seeking employment was allegedly duped by a couple and an Axis Bank manager. The trio reportedly opened a bank account and issued a credit card in his name, siphoning off over ₹3.44 lakh. The police have now registered a case following a court directive.
According to the complaint, Ashish Prasad alias Ashish Uniyal, a resident of Raowli Mahdud village under Sidcul police jurisdiction, stated that in 2022, while looking for a job, he met Deepak Agarwal and his wife Pinky Agarwal, residents of New Shivalik Nagar, Haridwar. The couple ran what they claimed was a job placement agency and promised to secure him employment.
They told him that to receive a salary, he needed to open a digital bank account in his name. Trusting them, Ashish handed over copies of his Aadhaar card, educational certificates, and personal documents.
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The couple, he alleged, used their laptop to open an account in his name with Axis Bank’s Palwal branch in Haryana, and asked him to wait for confirmation. A few weeks later, when Ashish returned to their office, he discovered that it had been shut down and the couple had vanished without notice.
Believing the job prospect had simply fallen through, Ashish moved on and found another job. The fraud came to light a year later, in December 2023, when he applied for a business loan. His loan application was rejected due to a low CIBIL score, prompting him to investigate further.
To his shock, Ashish discovered that a credit card had been fraudulently issued in his name, and ₹3.44 lakh had been withdrawn via ATMs. The Axis Bank account linked to the card had been opened using his credentials, allegedly with the connivance of the then branch manager.
Sidcul Police Station Officer confirmed that a case was registered on the orders of the court on Tuesday. Investigators are now probing how the fraudulent account and credit card were approved without proper verification.
Preliminary findings indicate that the bank official may have bypassed KYC and verification protocols, enabling the couple to exploit Ashish’s identity. Axis Bank’s internal audit team has also been alerted to the breach.
Cybercrime experts say such frauds are becoming increasingly common amid India’s rapid push toward digital banking. Scammers frequently target job seekers and individuals unfamiliar with banking procedures.
Former IPS officer and cybercrime expert Dr. Triveni Singh commented, “Identity-based financial frauds often begin with fake job or loan offers. People must be extremely cautious before sharing identity documents, especially with unverified agencies. Always confirm with the bank if any account or card has been opened in your name.”
Police have booked the accused under sections related to fraud, forgery, and criminal conspiracy of the Indian Penal Code. Investigators are examining bank records and CCTV footage to establish the exact role of the Axis Bank manager.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the growing vulnerabilities in digital banking systems — and how the promise of a job can easily turn into a financial nightmare. As India embraces digital finance, experts warn that data integrity and identity protection must become non-negotiable pillars of customer safety.
