A resident of Manimajra in Chandigarh fell victim to a sophisticated cyber fraud scheme. Criminals siphoned off a staggering Rs 14.9 lakh from his two bank accounts. They achieved this by allegedly hacking into his mobile phone.
Police Register Case Against Unidentified Persons
Based on a formal complaint from the victim, the local police have registered a case. The case targets unidentified persons. No arrests have taken place so far. The investigation remains active.
Network Issues Preceded the Fraud
The complainant, Ashwani Singla, reported persistent network problems. He experienced these issues for four to five days. Initially, he believed it was a simple technical glitch.
On January 12, Singla visited an Airtel showroom in Manimajra. He sought help for his network troubles. Showroom staff replaced his SIM card. They informed him that SMS services would remain inactive for a full 24 hours. His calls worked normally, but the SMS function did not return.
Second SIM Replacement and Further Disruptions
Network disruptions resurfaced on January 13. Singla returned to the Airtel showroom. Staff replaced his SIM card once again. This time, they told him he would not receive SMSes or calls for the next 72 hours.
Discovery of Massive Financial Loss
The shocking discovery came the very next day. On January 14, Singla noticed an SMS alert on his phone. It showed a single transaction of Rs 4 lakh from his bank account.
Alarmed, he immediately contacted HDFC Bank's toll-free customer service number. Bank officials delivered devastating news. They informed him that multiple debit transactions had occurred from his accounts over the past three to four days. The total amount stolen reached Rs 14.9 lakh.
This incident highlights the growing threat of SIM swap frauds. It serves as a stark warning for all mobile users to remain vigilant about unusual network activity.
