Mangaluru Man Falls Victim to SIM Swap Fraud, Loses Rs 1.9 Lakh
A 32-year-old resident of Mangaluru has filed a formal police complaint after unknown individuals allegedly siphoned off Rs 1.9 lakh from his bank account through a series of unauthorized transactions. The incident, which highlights the growing threat of cybercrime in urban areas, has prompted authorities to register a case under relevant sections of the Information Technology Act.
Sequence of Events Leading to the Fraud
According to the detailed complaint lodged with the Mangaluru East police, the victim first noticed that his mobile phone's SIM card had become inactive on the morning of February 28, at approximately 7 am. Concerned about the sudden loss of connectivity, he visited the service provider's office near Bunts Hostel around 10 am the same day to obtain a replacement SIM card with his original number.
Key details from the complaint include:
- The service provider staff instructed him to insert the new SIM card into his phone after a waiting period of four hours.
- Upon attempting to activate the Google Pay application later, he received an OTP on his phone but did not enter it, indicating no immediate suspicion of foul play.
Discovery of Unauthorized Withdrawals
The complainant, who holds a salary account at a bank branch in Pumpwell, Mangaluru, received a shock on March 2 at 4:04 am when multiple SMS alerts notified him of money being debited from his account. Acting swiftly, he approached the bank officials and requested them to freeze his account to prevent further losses.
Further investigation revealed:
- Upon obtaining the bank statement for the period between February 27 and March 2, he verified that unauthorized transactions had also occurred on March 1.
- The total amount withdrawn through these multiple transactions amounted to Rs 1.9 lakh, causing significant financial distress.
Response and Police Action
Initially, the victim contacted the national cyber helpline at 1930 to report the matter but hesitated to file a formal police complaint, hoping that the deducted amount would be credited back by the bank or authorities. However, when the money was not refunded, he proceeded to lodge a complaint with the Mangaluru East police station.
The police have registered a case and are investigating the incident, focusing on potential links to SIM swap fraud techniques, where criminals deactivate a victim's SIM to intercept OTPs and gain access to bank accounts. This case underscores the importance of vigilance in digital transactions and prompt reporting of suspicious activities to law enforcement agencies.
