In a shocking case of attempted cyber fraud, a woman and her son in Risali (Bhilai), Chhattisgarh, were nearly duped of ₹45 lakh by individuals posing as officials from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Mumbai Crime Branch. The woman, a widow, was convinced to withdraw funds under the threat of digital arrest, but alert bank employees thwarted the scam.

The Fraud Attempt

On Thursday morning, an unknown caller contacted the woman, claiming to be from the CBI, while another caller reached her son, claiming to represent the Mumbai Crime Branch. The callers accused the family of being involved in a money laundering case and demanded ₹45 lakh to avoid arrest.

The fraudsters obtained personal and banking details from both the mother and son. Upon discovering the woman had a fixed deposit (FD) of ₹39 lakh and ₹6 lakh in her bank account, they pressured her to withdraw the money. They also instructed her to avoid speaking to anyone and stay in touch via phone.

Bank Staff's Alertness

The woman, visibly shaken, arrived at the bank around 1:30 PM to break her ₹39 lakh FD and withdraw ₹6 lakh in cash. Her nervous demeanor raised suspicions among the bank staff, who questioned her about the purpose of the withdrawal.

When the woman mentioned that CBI officials threatened to arrest her and her son, the bank employees realized it was a cyber scam.They explained the nature of such frauds and convinced her not to proceed with the transaction.

Key Turnaround

A critical moment occurred when the woman mentioned she intended to buy land in Assam and had filled out a form with an ICICI Bank address in Silchar, Assam. This raised further doubts among the staff, as it was unusual for her to purchase land in a distant state. The bank employees helped the woman re-deposit her money into a new FD and advised her to report the incident to her son and local authorities.

Police and Cyber Awareness

Durg Superintendent of Police Jitendra Shukla praised the bank staff for their quick thinking, stating, “Cyber criminals use various tactics to deceive people. Public awareness is the only defense against such scams. No government agency, including the police, enforces digital arrests.

Any suspicious calls should be reported immediately to the cybercrime helpline at 1930.”

Recognition for Bank Employees

The next day, the bank staff received commendation for their vigilance, which saved the woman from losing her hard-earned money.

Cyber Fraud Prevention Tips

Avoid entertaining calls from unknown numbers claiming to be from government agencies. Never share personal or financial details over the phone. Be cautious of unusual transactions or demands.

Report fraud attempts to the cybercrime helpline at 1930. The incident underscores the importance of public awareness and proactive actions by bank staff in preventing cyber frauds.