Bank of Baroda’s Kamola branch hit by a digital fraud
Residents of the Kamola area in Kaladhungi are on high alert after a wave of unauthorized debits appeared on statements from the local Bank of Baroda branch. So far, two customers have confirmed a combined loss of ₹5 lakh, and bank officials are still checking whether additional accounts were compromised.
Victims rush to the branch after spotting fake withdrawals
When the irregular entries showed up, the affected clients hurried to the branch on Monday to verify the status of their funds. A modest crowd gathered, some seeking reassurance that the remaining balances were safe, while others inquired about closing their accounts or adopting extra security measures.
How the scam was executed
One victim, Dharmendra Kumar of Vijaypur Dhamola, says he received a WhatsApp message that seemed to originate from the bank’s cashier. The message urged him to download a particular app, after which two separate withdrawals of ₹2 lakh each were processed, wiping ₹4 lakh from his account.
Another customer, Rani Devi of Dhamola, suffered a loss of ₹1 lakh under a similar scheme, alleging that the same WhatsApp‑based lure was used against her.
Local police and cyber‑crime investigators are now tracing the digital footprints to determine whether a single fraudster is behind both incidents.
Bank’s reaction and law‑enforcement involvement
Branch manager Ankit Kumar confirmed that the case has been reported to the nearest police station and the cyber‑cell. The bank is currently reviewing transaction logs and the circumstances surrounding the alleged withdrawals.
Authorities have launched a formal inquiry, scrutinizing the impacted accounts and cross‑checking records for patterns that could point to 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 goal is to pinpoint the perpetrators, recover the stolen money and determine if the same technique has been replicated elsewhere.
What lies ahead for the affected customers?
Account holders are urging the bank to reinforce its digital security, upgrade authentication protocols and issue clear guidelines on spotting phishing attempts. They also seek prompt reimbursement of the lost funds and reassurance that such breaches will not happen again.
