Etah Pensioner Loses ₹4.49 Lakh in SBI Fraud, Alleges Staff Collusion

A retired government employee in Uttar Pradesh’s Etah district has alleged that ₹4.49 lakh was fraudulently withdrawn from his State Bank of India (SBI) savings account through multiple online transactions. The complainant has also claimed that his registered mobile number and nominee details were changed without his consent, raising concerns about possible procedural lapses or internal involvement.

Police have received a complaint, and the matter is expected to be investigated.

Fraud Discovered During Passbook Update

According to the complaint, Chaitanya Prakash Paliwal, a resident of Jaitra, maintains a pension account at the State Bank of India (SBI), Jaitra branch, where his monthly pension is deposited.

Paliwal stated that his account balance stood at approximately ₹12.73 lakh on June 5, 2024. However, when he visited the branch on July 3 to update his passbook, he discovered that ₹4,49,128 had allegedly been withdrawn through 95 online transactions that he claims he neither initiated nor authorized.

The complainant further alleged that the account nominee had been changed from his wife, Sarvesh Paliwal, to an individual identified as Mohammad Furkan, whom he says he does not know.

Customer Claims He Never Used Digital Payment Apps

Paliwal told authorities that he has never used digital payment platforms such as PhonePe or similar mobile payment applications.

He suspects that fraudsters first changed the mobile number registered with his bank account, enabling them to receive transaction alerts and one-time passwords (OTPs), thereby allowing unauthorized online transfers without his knowledge.

Following the discovery, the complainant submitted a written request to the bank seeking restoration of his original registered mobile number and nominee details. He also filed a complaint with the Jaitra Police Station requesting criminal action.

According to the complaint, such changes could not have occurred without serious procedural failures or possible internal collusion. These allegations have not been independently verified.

Investigation Likely to Examine Banking Records

At the time of reporting, no official statement had been issued by the SBI branch regarding the allegations.

If a formal criminal case is registered, investigators are expected to examine KYC records, account modification requests, internal banking logs, digital audit trails, IP addresses, and transaction histories to determine how the account details were allegedly altered and whether banking procedures were properly followed.

Experts Urge Customers to Monitor Account Details

Cybersecurity and banking experts advise customers to regularly verify their registered mobile number, email address, nominee information, and other KYC details to reduce the risk of account-related fraud.

They also recommend immediately reporting any suspicious banking activity to the bank, contacting the National Cyber Crime Helpline (1930), and filing a complaint through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, as prompt reporting can improve the chances of freezing fraudulent transactions and recovering stolen funds.

The allegations remain under investigation, and no findings have yet established criminal liability. Any determination regarding responsibility will depend on the outcome of the police inquiry and any subsequent legal proceedings.