Hyderabad: Senior Citizen Saved from Losing Rs 46 Lakh in Cyber Scam
Bank officials at the Chandrayangutta branch of the State Bank of India (SBI) recently prevented a senior citizen from falling victim to a digital arrest scam, saving him from losing Rs 46 lakh.
On November 22, a retired PSU employee and his spouse visited the branch to transfer Rs 46 lakh via RTGS. Senior Associate B. Praveen noticed the customer’s tense and restless behavior, which raised suspicion. He immediately brought the couple to the attention of the Branch Head, Dr. Shiva Kumar, AGM, who began inquiring about the transaction. It was soon uncovered that the couple was being targeted by cybercriminals.
The customer revealed that the scammers, posing as CBI officers on video calls, claimed they were investigating a large-scale fraud involving a man named Sunil Goel. The alleged scam amounted to Rs 100 crore, and the criminals falsely accused the customer of being connected to it.
For three days, the customer and his wife were held hostage through continuous video calls by the scammers. The criminals forbade the couple from contacting anyone or discussing the matter. They threatened to arrest the customer and his son unless Rs 46 lakh was transferred immediately from their fixed deposit account to an account belonging to “M/s Mizani Electratech” at ICICI Bank in Aurangabad.
In desperation, the couple went to the SBI Chandrayangutta branch to carry out the transfer. However, the Branch Manager, Dr. Shiva Kumar, quickly realized the seriousness of the situation. He contacted the customer’s children and advised them to report the incident to the Cyber Crime Helpline (1930).
The timely intervention of the bank staff not only prevented the couple from losing their life savings but also helped expose this cyber fraud attempt. The incident highlights the importance of vigilance and prompt action in combating digital scams.
