A retired resident of Vejalpur in Ahmedabad, Pravinkant S Patel, was duped of ₹22.2 lakh by scammers posing as representatives of Bank of India.

The incident occurred between November 5 and 6, when the victim unwittingly provided sensitive bank account information via a fraudulent mobile application.  

The retired government employee received a message on WhatsApp from an unknown number claiming to be from the Bank of India.

The message, titled ‘Bank of India Aadhaar Update’, urged customers to update their Aadhaar details to prevent their bank accounts from being blocked. The scammers attached an APK file (a mobile application) disguised as an official Bank of India app.  

Trusting the message’s authenticity, Patel downloaded the application and entered his details, including his name, mobile number, and bank account details. Within hours, a series of unauthorised transactions drained ₹22.2 lakh from his account through UPI and NEFT transfers.  

As per the police, the fraudulent transactions were carried out in quick succession, transferring amounts of ₹25,000 and ₹50,000 to various accounts.

Upon realising the suspicious activity, Patel attempted to contact his bank but was unable to halt the transfers. The next morning, when he visited his branch, he discovered that even his fixed deposits had been liquidated and transferred to unauthorised accounts via overdraft accounts opened without his consent.  

Senior police officials stated, “The victim believed the application was legitimate because it displayed the Bank of India logo and name. He was afraid that his account would be blocked if he did not act quickly. By the time he realised the fraud, it was too late.”

The City Cyber Cell Police has registered a complaint under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Information Technology Act and have obtained the WhatsApp messages, transaction details, and other evidence to track the perpetrators.

Authorities are also investigating whether the fraudsters had inside access to the victim’s banking information and whether the fraudulent application was used in other cases.  

The police have issued a warning to citizens to exercise caution while dealing with unsolicited messages, especially those requiring personal or financial details. 

- Do not download APK files or applications from unverified sources.  

- Avoid sharing sensitive information like Aadhaar details or bank account numbers online.  

- Contact your bank directly if you receive such messages.

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