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Kolkata: Another disturbing incident of online scam, recently unfolded in Kolkata, where an 83-year-old retired government official, S.P. Sinha, became the victim of an online scam, resulting in a loss of Rs 2.5 lakh. Sinha, who lives in Thakurpukur, had diligently visited his bank branch for all transactions and information, but one day he lost his life savings due to an evasive call from the bank.
The scam began when 83-year-old Sinha received a call from an unidentified man claiming to be stationed at “table number 3” of the branch, the same spot Sinha usually frequented for his pension account. The caller asserted that he was reaching out to verify Sinha’s KYC (know your customer) details online. Since Sinha had been visiting the bank and the same table for his work, he got convinced and agreed to follow the caller’s instructions to update his KYC online.
“On November 11 (the day before Diwali), I received a call in the afternoon. The man said he was calling from the bank (the branch where Sinha has his pension account). He also mentioned my account number. When I said the bank was closed that day, he said only the ‘verification’ section was open and that I needed to update my KYC,” Sinha told the publication.
Trusting the authenticity of the caller due to the familiarity of the details mentioned, Sinha followed the instructions to update his KYC information. The caller, quoting Sinha’s account number, assured him that despite the bank being closed for Diwali, the ‘verification’ section was operational, and urged Sinha to proceed with the KYC update.
Facing difficulties during the process, Sinha sought help from his 11-year-old grandson, who efficiently followed the caller’s instructions. However, when the call ended, Sinha was disappointed to see that Rs 2,57,650 had been debited from his account. Additionally, they lost access to their fixed deposits and recurring deposits.
Sinha, like many elderly people, relied on traditional banking methods and lacked familiarity with online transactions. Unfortunately, his eleven-year-old grandson, unaware of the call’s deceptive nature, unknowingly provided the information the fraudsters sought.
This incident serves as a strict reminder, especially for the elderly, to be wary of unwanted calls and verify the authenticity of financial transaction requests. Importantly, remember that major institutions like the government or banks never initiate financial transactions over phone calls.
As for the KYC update to update the information, individuals can visit their bank branch to update their KYC information.
How to update KYC online
Log in to your bank’s online banking portal.
Click the “KYC” tab.
Select the “Update KYC” button.
Choose the information you want to update.
Make changes and submit the required documents.
Enter the OTP sent to your mobile number to validate your request.
