Cyber‑theft rattles Bank of Baroda’s Kamola branch
Residents of the Kamola area in Kaladhungi are on high alert after a string of unauthorised debit transactions surfaced at the local Bank of Baroda branch. So far, two customers have confirmed a total loss of ₹5 lakh, and bank officials are still verifying whether other account holders have been affected.
Customers rush to the branch after spotting bogus withdrawals
When the irregular entries appeared on their statements, the victims hurried to the branch on Monday to clarify the status of their accounts. A modest crowd gathered, with many seeking reassurance that the remaining balances were safe, while others inquired about closing their accounts or adopting extra security measures.
How the fraud was executed
One victim, Dharmendra Kumar of Vijaypur Dhamola, says he received a WhatsApp message that seemed to be sent by a bank cashier. The message urged him to install a purported banking app, after which two separate debits of ₹2 lakh each were deducted, wiping out ₹4 lakh from his account.
Another customer, Rani Devi of Dhamola, lost ₹1 lakh in a similar fashion, alleging that the same WhatsApp‑based lure was employed.
Police and cyber‑crime investigators are now tracing the digital footprints to determine whether a single perpetrator orchestrated both incidents.
Bank’s reaction and police involvement
Branch manager Ankit Kumar confirmed that the matter has been reported to the local police station and the cyber‑cell. The bank is currently reviewing transaction logs and the circumstances surrounding the alleged withdrawals.
Authorities have launched a formal inquiry, scrutinising the affected accounts and cross‑checking transaction records for any patterns that could hint at additional victims.
Investigation steps undertaken
Kotwali SSI Pankaj Joshi disclosed that his team is validating each complaint, analysing timestamps, IP addresses and the content of the suspicious WhatsApp messages. The probe aims to identify the culprits, recover the stolen funds and assess whether the same phishing technique has been replicated elsewhere.
What lies ahead for the affected customers?
Account holders are urging the bank to bolster its digital security, upgrade authentication protocols and issue clear guidelines on recognising phishing attempts. They also hope for a swift refund of the stolen amounts and assurances that such breaches will not recur.
