Cyber heist shakes Bank of Baroda’s Kamola branch
Residents of the Kamola area in Kaladhungi are on high alert after a string of unauthorized debits surfaced at the local Bank of Baroda branch. So far, two clients have reported a combined loss of ₹5 lakh, and officials are still checking whether other account holders have been impacted.
Clients rush to the branch after spotting fraudulent withdrawals
When the irregular entries appeared on their statements, the victims hurried to the branch on Monday to verify the status of their accounts. A modest crowd gathered, many seeking reassurance that the remaining balances were secure, while others inquired about closing their accounts or adopting extra safeguards.
How the fraud was executed
One victim, Dharmendra Kumar from Vijaypur Dhamola, says he received a WhatsApp message that seemed to be sent by the bank’s cashier. The message urged him to download a particular app, after which two separate deductions of ₹2 lakh each were made, draining ₹4 lakh from his account.
Another client, Rani Devi of Dhamola, lost ₹1 lakh in a comparable manner, alleging that the same WhatsApp‑based ploy was used against her.
Police and cyber‑crime investigators are now tracing the digital footprints to determine whether a single fraudster is responsible for both cases.
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 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 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 probe aims to identify the perpetrators, recover the stolen funds and determine whether the same method has been replicated elsewhere.
What lies ahead for the impacted customers?
Account holders are urging the bank to strengthen its digital security, upgrade authentication mechanisms and circulate clear guidance on recognizing phishing attempts. They also anticipate prompt reimbursement of the lost sums and assurances that similar breaches will not happen again.
