A branch manager at the State Bank of India’s (SBI) Lothukunta branch in Hyderabad prevented a senior citizen couple from falling victim to a Rs 30 lakh cyber fraud on Friday.
Naveen Kumar, the branch manager, acted promptly after noticing unusual behaviour from a 78-year-old customer who had come to close his Senior Citizen Savings Scheme (SCSS) account. The customer, a doctor and a clinic owner, was being manipulated by cybercriminals posing as Delhi Customs and Crime Police officials.
It all began when the elderly man received a call at 12.20 pm from someone claiming to be a Delhi Customs officer. The caller alleged that a parcel containing passports and ATM cards in his name had arrived from Malaysia. When the customer denied any knowledge of the parcel, the call was transferred to an alleged ACP, Sunil Kumar, from the Delhi Crime branch.
Claiming that the customer’s Aadhaar credentials were linked to a money-laundering case involving Rs 88 crore, the fraudsters pressured him to close his SCSS account containing Rs 30 lakh and transfer the funds to his savings account to secure a police clearance certificate.
By 2.30 pm, the distressed customer visited the bank. Naveen Kumar, noticing his anxiety and receiving vague explanations about a medical emergency, became suspicious. The manager’s doubts grew when repeated calls from the fraudsters interrupted their conversation.
Kumar contacted the Regional Business Office and verified with Apollo Hospitals that the customer’s wife was not admitted, as claimed. Realising the situation, he alerted local police, who arrived at the branch. The customer then disclosed the fraudulent calls and the mental stress inflicted by the scammers for over three hours.
The bank manager’s swift action saved the couple’s life savings and prevented further exploitation.
Meanwhile, the police have urged citizens to remain alert to cyber fraud. Suspicious calls or transactions should be reported to the cybercrime helpline (1930) or through the official portal at www.cybercrime.gov.in.
