22-05-2025
Alert bank manager, cops foil cyber fraud against retd BHU prof
Varanasi: Prompt action by a bank manager to seek the help of police saved a retired Banaras Hindu University (BHU) professor and medical practitioner, Dr PR Gupta, from becoming a victim of digital arrest and losing his savings to cyber fraudsters, on Wednesday.
Under pressure from the fraudsters, Gupta went to terminate his pre-mature fixed deposits to fulfil their demand. The bank manager, noticing Gupta's distress, tried to understand the reason and alerted the police. Gupta, who later released a video message to thank the police and bank officials after explaining the act of the cyber fraudsters, was initially not ready to reveal the reason for his distress.
Sensing something fishy, the manager called inspector Lanka Shivakant Mishra. After taking Gupta into confidence, the inspector alerted the cybercrime cell officers who immediately swung into action. Gupta told police that two days back a young man called him up and said he was under Supreme Court-ordered investigation in a bank fraud case. He instructed Gupta to stay inside his chamber and not to disclose anything about their interaction.
The fraudster arranged a video call for Gupta with a person he claimed was his senior officer. Gupta was instructed to call the fraudster twice every day and then he was instructed to transfer money into their account to settle the matter.
