Bank Executive Faces Harassment from Fake Loan Recovery Agents
A senior executive of a private bank in Gurgaon has lodged a police complaint alleging that unidentified individuals posing as loan recovery agents subjected him and his family to severe harassment. The harassment included over 200 abusive phone calls, threatening WhatsApp messages, and an onslaught of OTP and spam alerts over several days.
Details of the Incident
According to the First Information Report (FIR) registered at the Cyber Crime East police station in Sector 43, the ordeal began when the complainant started receiving repeated calls inquiring about an unknown employee who had supposedly taken a loan. The complainant informed the callers that he had no knowledge of the person or the alleged loan account and requested them to cease contact. However, the callers allegedly persisted, contacting multiple family members at all hours.
Nature of Harassment
Police reports indicate that the complainant and his family collectively received more than 200 calls through regular cellular networks and WhatsApp calls. Whenever one number was blocked, calls reportedly came from different numbers. The callers used abusive and obscene language during calls and messages, attempting to intimidate the family. The complainant also alleged that female family members were subjected to vulgar verbal abuse.
Spam and OTP Flooding
The FIR states that the accused flooded the family’s phones with OTP and spam messages from platforms such as Zepto, Allen, Licious, EatSure, Physics Wallah, and Lenskart in an attempt to mentally harass them. This tactic overwhelmed the victims with notifications and disrupted their daily lives.
Privacy Concerns Escalate
The situation escalated when unknown individuals allegedly sent photographs of the complainant’s family members and children through WhatsApp and other online platforms, raising serious concerns over privacy and safety. Additionally, the callers misused delivery service platforms and third-party numbers linked to Blinkit and Swiggy to bypass blocked numbers and continue contacting the family.
Legal Action Taken
An officer stated, “Based on the complaint, we have registered an FIR under Sections 351(2) (criminal intimidation) and 79 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita at Cyber Crime East police station. An investigation into the incident has been initiated.”
About the Author
Samad Hoque is a crime reporter with The Times of India, with a keen interest in the intersections of politics and public life. He has previously worked for The Tribune newspaper in Delhi.
