Svc Bank Branch Foils ₹30 Lakh Digital Arrest Scam, Saves Customer’s Life Savings
Mumbai: A timely intervention by an alert bank official at a branch in Ahmedabad helped prevent a customer from losing ₹30 lakh in a suspected “digital arrest” cyber fraud.
The incident came to light when a customer holding a savings account with the bank’s Mumbai branch visited the Ahmedabad branch to initiate an urgent RTGS transfer of ₹30 lakh. During the transaction, Assistant Branch Manager Dipkumar Sagar noticed unusual signs of distress and fear in the customer’s behaviour.
Sensing that something was amiss, Sagar paused the transaction before authorization and discreetly interacted with the customer. Further verification revealed that the customer had allegedly been subjected to a “digital arrest” scam for around a week.
According to the information shared by the bank, the customer had already transferred approximately ₹4 lakh through another bank as part of the fraud. The customer subsequently redeemed mutual funds and other savings and approached the Ahmedabad branch to transfer another ₹30 lakh.
The branch official’s vigilance prevented the high-value transaction from going through. The customer was counselled about the suspected fraud and the circumstances were subsequently brought to the attention of Branch Manager Rupen Parikh, who also visited the customer’s residence.
The incident highlights the importance of vigilance by banking staff, particularly when customers attempt large or unusual transactions under apparent stress or pressure.
The bank appreciated the alertness and timely intervention of Dipkumar Sagar and the leadership of Rupen Parikh, emphasizing that careful observation of customer behaviour can play a crucial role in preventing cyber fraud and protecting customers’ hard-earned money.
The incident also serves as a reminder for customers that genuine government agencies, police officials or investigating authorities do not conduct investigations by placing individuals under “digital arrest” through video calls or demanding immediate money transfers.
