Kolkata Man Loses Rs 2 Lakh in Cyber Fraud After Phone Theft Near Sealdah
A 43-year-old resident of Baruipur in Kolkata has alleged that Rs 2 lakh was siphoned from his public bank account just an hour after his mobile phone was stolen near the Sealdah area on February 13. In response, Kolkata Police has registered a formal case of theft and cyber fraud, issuing a fresh warning to the public about the critical importance of securing banking applications on personal devices.
Police Case Registered Under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita
Entally police officers have officially registered the case under Sections 303(2) and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, based on a detailed written complaint filed by the victim. According to the complaint, the thief exploited an OTP (One-Time Password) to gain unauthorized access to the victim's bank account via the stolen phone. This led to multiple illicit transactions totaling Rs 2,00,000. Police records indicate that the fraudulent activities were traced to transactions linked to a location near a gold store on Dr LMB Road, highlighting the swift and targeted nature of the crime.
Investigation Focuses on Transaction Trail and CCTV Footage
An investigating officer revealed that authorities suspect the victim's banking credentials were stored on the device, which facilitated the criminals' rapid actions. "Our team is diligently working to trace the transaction trail and identify the beneficiary accounts involved in this fraud," the officer stated. To bolster the investigation, police are examining CCTV footage from the Sealdah bus stand area and surrounding locations. This effort aims to identify suspects and reconstruct the sequence of events leading up to the reported pickpocketing incident.
Additionally, officers are coordinating closely with the bank's fraud investigation cell to obtain crucial data, including:
- Transaction logs and precise timestamps
- Details of beneficiary accounts
- Determination of whether transfers occurred via UPI, net banking, or other in-app payment channels
Cybersecurity Experts Highlight Growing Pattern of Phone Theft Frauds
Cybersecurity specialists have noted that this case aligns with an increasing trend where phone theft is quickly followed by unauthorized financial withdrawals. This pattern suggests that thieves are specifically targeting devices with active banking applications, saved login credentials, or weak screen locks. Such vulnerabilities allow criminals to act almost immediately after stealing a phone, maximizing their illicit gains before victims can respond.
Police Urge Public to Enhance Device Security Measures
Kolkata Police emphasized that this incident marks the second such case reported within a single week, underscoring the urgency for enhanced personal security practices. Authorities have issued a strong advisory, urging all users to:
- Secure devices with strong, unique passcodes or biometric locks
- Restrict app access through privacy settings
- Enable two-factor authentication for banking and financial applications
Furthermore, police have advised victims of theft to act swiftly by immediately blocking their SIM cards and suspending banking access to prevent further unauthorized transactions. This proactive approach can significantly mitigate potential losses in similar cyber fraud scenarios.
