Cyber‑theft shakes Bank of Baroda’s Kamola outlet

Residents of the Kamola area in Kaladhungi are on high alert after a series of unauthorized debits appeared at their local Bank of Baroda branch. Two customers together have been defrauded of roughly ₹5 lakh, and bank officials are still checking if other account holders were targeted.

Patrons rush to the branch after spotting bogus withdrawals

When the irregular entries showed up on their statements, the victims hurried to the branch on Monday to verify the status of their accounts. A modest crowd gathered, many demanding reassurance that their remaining balances were safe, while others inquired about closing their accounts or adopting extra security measures.

How the fraud was carried out

Dharmendra Kumar of Vijaypur Dhamola recounted receiving a WhatsApp message that seemed to be sent by the bank’s cashier. The message urged him to install a particular app; once installed, two separate deductions of ₹2 lakh each were made, erasing ₹4 lakh from his account.

Rani Devi of Dhamola suffered a loss of ₹1 lakh in an identical manner, claiming that the same WhatsApp‑based ploy was used against her.

Law enforcement and cyber‑crime investigators are now tracing the digital footprints to determine whether a single perpetrator orchestrated both incidents.

Bank’s reaction and police involvement

Branch manager Ankit Kumar confirmed that the case has been lodged with the local police station and the cyber‑cell. The bank is currently auditing transaction logs and reviewing the circumstances surrounding the alleged withdrawals.

Authorities have launched a formal inquiry, scrutinising the affected accounts and cross‑checking transaction records for any patterns that could reveal additional victims.

Steps taken in the investigation

Kotwali SSI Pankaj Joshi disclosed that his team is validating each complaint, examining timestamps, IP addresses, and the content of the suspicious WhatsApp messages. The goal is to pinpoint the culprits, recover the siphoned funds, and assess whether the same technique has been replicated elsewhere.

What lies ahead for the affected customers?

Customers are urging the bank to reinforce its digital security framework, upgrade authentication protocols, and circulate clear guidelines on spotting phishing attempts. They also seek prompt reimbursement of the stolen amounts and firm assurances that such breaches will not recur.