Cyber‑theft rattles the Kamola outlet of Bank of Baroda
Residents of the Kamola neighbourhood in Kaladhungi are on high alert after a string of unauthorized debits appeared on statements from the local Bank of Baroda branch. So far, two customers have confirmed a combined loss of ₹5 lakh, and bank officials are still checking if additional accounts were compromised.
Clients rush to the branch after spotting strange withdrawals
When the irregular entries showed up, the affected account holders hurried to the branch on Monday to verify the status of their balances. A modest crowd gathered, many seeking reassurance that their remaining funds were safe, while others queried the possibility of closing their accounts or adopting extra safeguards.
How the fraud was executed
One victim, Dharmendra Kumar of Vijaypur Dhamola, says he received a WhatsApp message that seemed to originate from the bank’s cashier. The message urged him to install a mobile application, after which two separate debits of ₹2 lakh each were processed, draining ₹4 lakh from his account.
Another client, Rani Devi of Dhamola, suffered a loss of ₹1 lakh under the same circumstances, alleging that the identical WhatsApp‑based ploy was used against her.
Police and cyber‑crime investigators are now tracing the digital footprints to determine whether a single fraudster orchestrated both incidents.
Bank’s reaction and law‑enforcement involvement
Branch manager Ankit Kumar confirmed that the incident 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 opened a formal inquiry, scrutinising the affected accounts and cross‑checking transaction records for patterns that might reveal additional victims.
Steps being taken in the investigation
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 goal is to identify the perpetrators, recover the misappropriated funds, and assess whether this method has been replicated elsewhere.
What lies ahead for the impacted customers?
Customers are urging the bank to bolster its digital security, improve authentication mechanisms, and issue clear guidance on spotting phishing attempts. They also seek prompt restitution of the stolen amounts and firm assurances that similar breaches will not happen again.
