Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 30 October 2023
A resident of RGT Road, employed in a senior position at a Central Government Organisation, has fallen victim to a financial fraud, losing a staggering sum of Rs. 4,99,999. The incident sheds light on the importance of cybersecurity and caution in online transactions.
The unfortunate incident transpired when the victim attempted to transfer Rs. 25,000 from his savings account to his Bank of Baroda Savings Bank Account back in April. Regrettably, the transaction took a wrong turn as the money ended up being credited to an entirely different account, belonging to an unknown individual.
Seeking to rectify the erroneous transaction on October 18, 2023, the victim embarked on a Google search to find the Bank of Baroda Customer Care Number. His search led him to a phone number, which he believed to be the bank’s official helpline.
Upon dialling the number, he engaged in a conversation with a person who identified himself as Rahul Tripathi, claiming to be the Complaint and Grievance Officer of Bank of Baroda. To assist in the process, the individual requested the victim to download the AnyDesk App, a remote desktop application commonly used for remote device access.
In a moment of trust, the victim complied and granted the person on the other end access to his smartphone through the AnyDesk App, subsequently providing all of his sensitive banking information.
However, shortly after offering access to his device, the victim received an alarming SMS, notifying him of a debit of Rs. 4,99,999 from his bank account. It was then he realised that he had become a victim of a cunning online banking fraud.
The incident underscores the importance of vigilance in online transactions. AnyDesk and similar remote desktop applications are frequently exploited by fraudsters to manipulate unsuspecting individuals.
Law enforcement agencies and banks alike emphasise the significance of keeping personal banking information, including PINs, passwords, transaction credentials, and usernames, confidential. Financial institutions will never request such sensitive information for any purpose.
In light of the fraudulent incident, the victim promptly reported the matter to the police, resulting in the filing of a First Information Report (FIR) at PS Central Crime Station.
This unfortunate incident serves as a stark reminder for individuals to exercise caution and verify the authenticity of customer care helplines and support services to safeguard their financial assets from the ever-present threat of online fraud.