A major case of mobile-based phishing has surfaced in Bhadohi district, where a youth reportedly lost ₹2.15 lakh from two different bank accounts after opening a suspicious message received on his mobile phone. The victim’s family has lodged a complaint at Suriyawan police station and also contacted the national cyber helpline 1930. Police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology (Amendment) Act, 2008, treating the matter as a serious instance of online financial fraud.
Message received on 16 July, money withdrawn within minutes
According to the information provided to police, Dukhna Devi, a resident of Kenda village in Suriyawan police station area, filed a written complaint stating that her son Suraj Saroj had been using a mobile phone when he received a text message on 16 July from an unknown number. As soon as the message was opened, unauthorised transactions were initiated from two bank accounts linked to the number.
The fraudsters first withdrew ₹2,10,000 from Suraj’s Canara Bank account, followed by a withdrawal of ₹4,998 from his Union Bank account. The family realised the fraud only when they visited the bank branch and checked the detailed account statement.
Complaint registered on cyber helpline 1930; fraud detected at bank branch
After confirming the deductions, Dukhna Devi immediately reported the matter to the national cybercrime reporting helpline 1930. She stated that after her son clicked on the message, a hidden link or malicious script may have been activated, enabling the fraudsters to capture sensitive banking information or OTP details and carry out unauthorised transactions.
The family also claimed that no SMS alert was received before the money was debited, raising suspicion that the fraudsters may have used advanced techniques to bypass the alert system altogether. Police have begun investigating this technical angle as well.
Case registered under BNS and IT Act
Suriyawan police confirmed that a case has been registered against unidentified fraudsters under:
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Section 318(4) – pertaining to online cheating and fraudulent electronic transactions
- Information Technology (Amendment) Act, 2008 Section 66D – related to impersonation and cheating through electronic means
The police added that the cyber cell team is examining bank transaction logs, mobile phone records, digital footprints and the suspicious message link to trace how the fraud was executed.
Spike in digital fraud in rural areas; police issue advisory
Police officials noted that with the rapid rise in online banking and digital payments, rural regions are now increasingly being targeted through phishing messages, fraudulent links, and malware-based scams. Fraudsters commonly send messages claiming issues related to KYC updates, bank account blockage, lottery winnings, parcel deliveries, electricity bills or government schemes.
Authorities have issued a set of precautionary guidelines:
- Avoid opening any suspicious SMS, link or message from unknown numbers
- Never share bank details, ATM card numbers, OTP or UPI PIN with anyone
- Immediately call 1930 in case of any suspicious transaction
The cyber cell is currently investigating the source of the fraudulent withdrawals and identifying the accounts where the siphoned money was transferred. Preliminary findings suggest that the operation may be linked to an organised phishing network. Police said that coordination with banks, cyber forensics teams and service providers is underway, and further revelations are expected as the investigation progresses.
