BENGALURU: In a shocking case of cybercrime, a Bengaluru-based techie was duped of ₹2.8 crore after receiving a mobile phone rigged with a cloning app from fraudsters posing as bank officials.
Kishore Kumar (name changed), a 60-year-old Whitefield resident, filed a complaint with Whitefield CEN police, narrating the series of events. On November 27, Kumar received a call from a person identifying himself as Rohit Jain, allegedly a representative of his bank. Jain claimed Kumar’s credit card had been approved and, as part of a reward program, the bank was gifting him a smartphone.
Kumar received the courier on December 1, complete with the bank’s branding on the packaging. “I was instructed to insert my SIM card into the new phone and start using it,” Kumar stated in his complaint. Trusting the caller, he complied.
The fraud came to light on December 5, when Kumar visited his bank and discovered that ₹2.8 crore from his fixed deposits had been withdrawn. “The fixed deposits were broken, and the money was gone,” Kumar recounted.
How the Fraud Was Executed
An investigator revealed that the smartphone was embedded with a cloning app and other malicious software, allowing the fraudsters to remotely control the device. They reportedly changed the mobile number linked to Kumar’s bank account and gained unauthorized access, siphoning off the fixed deposit funds.
“We have obtained critical leads and are confident of apprehending the culprits soon,” the officer said.
A Warning to the Public
This incident highlights the increasing sophistication of cybercrimes and serves as a cautionary tale for others. Experts advise verifying any unsolicited offers or communication from banks and avoiding the use of unknown devices for personal or financial activities.
Authorities continue their investigation and have urged people to remain vigilant against such scams.
