A 67-year-old resident of Salt Lake, Kolkata, was allegedly defrauded of Rs 9.6 lakh in an online banking scam after being tricked into sharing his banking credentials under the pretext of a Know Your Customer (KYC) update, police reported on Thursday.
Incident Details
The complainant, a resident of Block-HB in Sector III, stated that the fraudulent activity began on April 27 at approximately 3 pm. He received a phone call from an individual identifying herself as Payel Choudhury, who claimed to be calling from a private bank where the victim held an active account. The caller asserted that his KYC details required an urgent update and persuaded him to download a mobile application.
How the Fraud Occurred
Following the caller's instructions, the elderly man shared his banking credentials, including his user ID and password. Police investigations revealed that 18 unauthorized transactions were carried out from his account between April 27 and April 28, resulting in a total loss of Rs 9,58,300.
Police Investigation
Authorities have registered a case and are investigating the matter. They urge citizens to be cautious of unsolicited calls requesting personal banking information and to never share credentials or download applications from unknown sources.
This incident highlights the growing threat of cyber fraud targeting elderly individuals. The police advise verifying any KYC-related requests directly with the bank through official channels.
