Bengaluru: A 58-year-old para-athlete and shot-putter, awarded the Padma Shri in 2021, allegedly lost Rs 90,000 from his account in an online fraud despite alerting the bank after receiving suspicious OTP messages late at night.
Victim's Profile
Venkatesh KY, who participated in multiple international competitions, including the World Dwarf Games, is also mentioned in the Limca Book of Records. He is a resident of 16th Cross, Malleswaram, and holds a savings account at Karnataka Bank’s 15th Cross branch.
Sequence of Events
On the midnight of April 23, Venkatesh began receiving multiple OTP messages linked to banking transactions. Concerned, he visited the bank the next morning and enquired with officials. He was reportedly informed that there was no issue with his account and that everything appeared normal.
Later in the day, around 5 pm, he checked his account balance only to find that Rs 90,000 had allegedly been siphoned off without his knowledge or consent.
Action Taken
Shocked, he approached the bank and lodged a complaint. On May 6, he filed a complaint with Malleswaram police seeking action against the unidentified fraudster. A case was registered under the Information Technology Act and BNS Section 318 (cheating).
The incident highlights the growing menace of online fraud, where even vigilant individuals can fall victim. Authorities are investigating the matter.
