Ahmedabad Retired Bank Worker Loses Rs 4 Lakh in Fake KYC WhatsApp Scam
A 60-year-old retired bank worker in Ahmedabad lost ₹4,03,996 from his and his wife’s savings accounts after a cyber fraudster tricked him into installing a malicious file via WhatsApp under the guise of completing KYC verification, according to police reports detailed by english.gujaratsamachar.com and The Times of India. The victim, identified in police records as Jagabhai Manabhai Makwana, filed a formal complaint with the Anandnagar police.
Fraudulent Phone Call from Bank Head Office
The incident unfolded on June 4 at approximately 8:30 p.m. while Makwana was at his home in Karnavatinagar, Ahmedabad. According to the FIR cited by The Times of India, Makwana previously worked as a cleaner at a bank branch on SG Highway and currently maintains a savings account at a branch in Prahladnagar. He received a call from an unidentified individual who falsely claimed to represent the Bank of India head office. The caller, who introduced himself as “Maqsudbhai,” stated that suspicious transactions and movement had been detected in Makwana’s account. The fraudster insisted that mandatory KYC formalities must be completed immediately to prevent funds from being frozen or deducted.
WhatsApp File Installation Triggers Instant Bank Deductions
Under the instruction of the caller, Makwana downloaded and installed an unknown file sent directly to his WhatsApp account. english.gujaratsamachar.com reported that almost immediately after opening the file, Makwana began receiving notification alerts indicating that money was actively leaving his bank accounts. Because Makwana’s mobile number was also linked as the registered contact for his wife Madhuben’s savings account at the same bank branch, the automated cyber attack drained funds from both accounts simultaneously.
Financial Loss Breakdown Across Accounts
Police records show that the unauthorized withdrawals targeted two separate accounts tied to the household. According to the complaint filed with Anandnagar police, an amount of ₹3,54,996 was siphoned directly from Makwana’s personal account. Simultaneously, ₹49,000 was debited from Madhuben’s account. While initial police summaries placed the combined loss at approximately ₹4.03 lakh, the detailed FIR records the exact total loss at ₹4,03,996. Madhuben has been officially listed as a witness in the ongoing police investigation.
Emergency Bank Response and Cybercrime Investigation
Upon realizing that unauthorized transactions were stripping his family’s savings, Makwana immediately contacted a bank employee and customer care to report the theft. The bank acted quickly to block both accounts, though the funds had already been transferred. Makwana subsequently learned from bank officials that no legitimate bank employee had ever contacted him regarding KYC verification. He reported the incident to the national cybercrime helpline at 1930 before registering the formal FIR at the Anandnagar police station. Investigators are currently examining the digital footprint of the WhatsApp file and tracing the destination accounts used to funnel the stolen money.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Ahmedabad Cyber Fraud
What exact date did the fake KYC phone call occur?
The fraudulent call took place on June 4 at around 8:30 p.m. while the victim was at his residence in Karnavatinagar, Ahmedabad, according to police records.
Which police station is handling the investigation into the ₹4 lakh scam?
Officers at the Anandnagar police station registered the formal FIR against an unidentified accused and are actively examining the digital trail and transaction logs.
How much money was specifically stolen from each account?
The cyber fraudster withdrew ₹3,54,996 from the retired bank worker’s account and ₹49,000 from his wife Madhuben’s account, bringing the total verified loss to ₹4,03,996.
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