Mumbai: A 63-year-old retired private firm employee from Sewri lost over Rs 6.42 lakh in a cyber fraud incident after misplacing his mobile phone during a routine visit to the Dadar vegetable market. The incident, which unfolded earlier this month, has now been registered as a case of mobile theft and cybercrime under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the IT Act.
According to the police report, the senior citizen visited the bustling Dadar market around 6:30 am on May 1 to buy vegetables. Upon returning home around 7:30 am, he discovered that his mobile phone was missing. He immediately informed his wife and son but continued with his plans to travel to Alibaug to attend his maternal aunt’s funeral.
Victim Realised He Lost Over ₹6 Lakh Via Multiple Transactions
While in Alibaug, the victim visited his bank to withdraw funds, only to find his Mumbai-based savings account reduced to just Rs 276. Alarmed, he requested a detailed transaction history. Bank records revealed that from May 1 to May 5, a total of Rs 1,48,999 had been siphoned off via UPI from his Mumbai account.
Further investigation revealed that between May 2 and May 7, another Rs 4,93,508 had been withdrawn fraudulently from his Alibag account. In total, Rs 6,42,846 had been stolen using his misplaced mobile device, according to a Lokmat Times report.
Case Filed, Police Probe On
The mobile phone had evidently fallen into the hands of cybercriminals, who managed to access both his bank accounts and carry out multiple unauthorized online transactions. The theft and further fraud were reported at the Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Marg Police Station upon the victim's return to Mumbai. The case has since been transferred to the Shivaji Park Police for further investigation.
Police officials have begun tracing the digital footprint of the perpetrators, examining the transaction details and analyzing the Call Detail Records (CDR) of the stolen phone. Cops are also checking if the fraudsters gained access to sensitive banking information stored on the device, including UPI apps and saved passwords.
