Delhi Man Duped of Over ₹10 Lakh by Fraudsters Posing as Bank Officials — Two Arrested

A disturbing case of cybercrime has once again shaken the capital, as two individuals were apprehended for allegedly impersonating bank officials and conning a Delhi resident out of more than ₹10 lakh. The case underscores the alarming rise in social engineering scams where criminals exploit public trust in banking institutions to siphon off life savings.

The Scam Unfolds

It started like any other weekday for Rajeev Sharma (name changed for privacy), a 42-year-old private sector employee living in South Delhi. He received a seemingly routine call from someone claiming to be from his bank’s fraud detection team. The caller sounded professional, confident, and even quoted a few recent transactions to build credibility.

What Rajeev didn’t realize at the time was that he was being lured into a carefully planned trap.

According to officials, the fraudsters told Rajeev that his bank account had been compromised and urgent action was required to “secure his funds.” Under the guise of helping him, they convinced him to share sensitive details, including OTPs (one-time passwords), citing verification protocols. Within hours, the scammers had drained his savings — over ₹10 lakh — into multiple accounts.

A Well-Rehearsed Script

Investigators revealed that the duo, aged in their late 20s, were part of a broader network that uses fake identities and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls to impersonate legitimate customer service executives. They would often speak fluently in both Hindi and English, wore fake ID cards during in-person visits, and even created counterfeit letterheads bearing official-looking bank logos when needed.

The scam was not an isolated event. Police sources suggest the group has targeted dozens of unsuspecting citizens across Delhi and neighboring areas using similar tactics.

Crackdown and Arrest

Delhi Police’s cybercrime unit took swift action once the complaint was filed. After tracing the trail of digital transactions and phone numbers, they managed to zero in on the suspects. The two were arrested from separate locations during a coordinated raid earlier this week.

Devices seized during the arrest include mobile phones, SIM cards from different states, forged identity documents, and even a fake “bank staff” uniform — an eerie reminder of how meticulously the con had been crafted.

Victim Speaks Out

Still in shock, Rajeev spoke to the press briefly: “They sounded so convincing. I never imagined this could happen to me. I’ve always been careful. It wasn’t just money — it was years of savings meant for my daughter’s education. I want others to be more aware than I was.”

His story, unfortunately, mirrors a growing number of cyber-fraud cases being reported each month.

An Alarming Trend

Banking frauds in India have surged in recent years, especially post-pandemic, as more people rely on digital transactions. Experts say fraudsters have evolved faster than many consumers, deploying psychological tricks to manipulate even educated and tech-savvy individuals.

A cybercrime official involved in the case shared, “It’s no longer just about phishing emails. These criminals study behavior, learn call center lingo, and stay up-to-date with bank policies so they can mimic real staff. People need to understand that legitimate banks will never ask for OTPs or passwords over a call.”

What You Should Do

Authorities have issued a fresh advisory urging people to:

• Never share OTPs, CVVs, or passwords over phone or email.
• Always call back on official customer care numbers listed on bank websites.
• Immediately report any suspicious calls or transactions to the cybercrime helpline or local police.
• Register mobile numbers with your bank to receive real-time alerts.

Justice Still Unfolding

While the arrested duo are now in custody and undergoing interrogation, police believe more individuals — possibly handlers or technical operators — are involved in the syndicate. Efforts are underway to trace other accomplices and recover the siphoned funds.

For now, Rajeev and many others are left grappling not just with financial loss, but the emotional toll of being deceived by voices that wore the mask of trust.

As digital India accelerates, so must awareness. Because often, the danger doesn’t come as a hacker in a hoodie — it comes as a friendly voice pretending to protect you.