Cyber fraud cases continue to rise, with criminals adopting new tactics to deceive unsuspecting victims. In a recent incident reported from the Dhoomanganj police station area, cyber fraudsters allegedly posed as a bank manager and siphoned off ₹3.92 lakh from a man’s bank account. The victim has lodged a complaint, and police have initiated an investigation.
According to officials, Tapas Kumar Saha, a resident of Dhussa Jhalwa, received a suspicious link on his mobile phone on the afternoon of January 5, 2026. The sender of the link claimed to be a manager from Punjab National Bank (PNB). He informed Saha that an urgent account verification was required, failing which the account could be temporarily blocked.
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Professional Approach to Gain Trust
As per the victim’s statement, the caller spoke in a professional tone and used banking terminology to sound credible. He expressed concern over account security and claimed that the KYC and security update process needed to be completed immediately. The caller asked Saha to click on the link provided and fill in certain details to avoid disruption of banking services.
Trusting the caller’s identity, Saha clicked on the link. The fraudster then asked for sensitive banking information, including account details, debit card information, and the One-Time Password (OTP) sent to his mobile phone. Believing he was speaking to a legitimate bank official, Saha shared the OTP — a mistake that proved costly.
Account Emptied Within Minutes
Shortly after sharing the OTP, Saha began receiving SMS alerts about debits from his account. Before he could fully understand what was happening, a total of ₹3,92,000 had been transferred out of his Punjab National Bank account.
Alarmed by the sudden withdrawals, he immediately contacted the bank and rushed to the branch to get his account frozen. He also reported the matter to the National Cyber Helpline number 1930 and submitted a written complaint at the Dhoomanganj police station.
Police Examining Digital Trail
Police officials stated that they are investigating the mobile number used to contact the victim as well as the bank accounts where the money was transferred. Call Detail Records (CDR), IP addresses, and transaction histories are being examined to trace the accused.
The cyber cell team is analyzing technical evidence to identify whether the fraud was carried out by a larger organized network. Authorities noted that such scams are often operated through fake call centers where fraudsters impersonate bank officials to obtain confidential information.
Public Advisory Issued
Police have once again urged citizens to remain vigilant. Banks never ask customers to share OTPs, PINs, passwords, or complete card details over phone calls or through links. People are advised to immediately disconnect any suspicious calls claiming to be from bank officials and verify directly through official customer care numbers or by visiting their bank branch.
Experts warn that sharing OTPs is one of the most common ways cyber criminals gain unauthorized access to bank accounts. Once the OTP is disclosed, funds can be transferred within minutes, leaving victims with little time to react.
The investigation into the ₹3.92 lakh fraud is ongoing, and police hope to identify and apprehend the culprits through digital tracking and banking records.
About the author – Rehan Khan is a law student and legal journalist with a keen interest in cybercrime, digital fraud, and emerging technology laws. He writes on the intersection of law, cybersecurity, and online safety, focusing on developments that impact individuals and institutions in India.
