Minister Vikramaditya Singh
Shimla, April 6: Cyber fraud continues to rise in Shimla, with recent reports highlighting that fraudsters are now targeting VIPs alongside ordinary citizens. The latest incident involved an attempt to withdraw Rs 8 lakh from the account of Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh. However, thanks to the vigilance of the bank staff, the fraudulent attempt was successfully foiled.
A complaint was filed by Priya Chhabra, the manager of the Vidhan Sabha branch of UCO Bank at Baluganj police station. According to the complaint, an unidentified caller posing as an employee of the Secretariat contacted the bank and requested the account details of Minister Vikramaditya Singh. The caller claimed the funds were urgently needed for some work and requested a transfer of Rs 7.85 lakh via RTGS from the minister’s account.
However, the branch manager became suspicious of the call. Acting swiftly, the manager contacted the minister’s personal secretary, and it was confirmed that no such request had been made from the Secretariat. As a result, the bank blocked the transaction and immediately informed the police, preventing what could have been a major cyber fraud.
The police have registered a case under Section 319(2) and 62 BNS of the Indian Penal Code against an unknown person. A senior officer at Baluganj Police Station mentioned that a technical investigation is underway, with efforts to trace the fraudster through the call details. The officer further emphasized that if the branch manager had not acted promptly, the fraud could have resulted in a substantial financial loss.
A Wake-Up Call for Bank Staff and Citizens
This incident serves as a stark reminder not only to banking employees but also to the general public to stay cautious of suspicious calls and unsolicited requests for financial transactions. Cybersecurity experts stress that people need to be more aware of digital security and online fraud prevention methods. Recent incidents, such as a case of sextortion in Shimla where a young man was duped of Rs 8 lakh, underscore the growing threat of cybercrime in the region.
Experts have also pointed out the lack of awareness among many individuals about digital security, despite ongoing warnings from banks and the police. Fraudsters continue to adapt their tactics, making it more important than ever for people to be vigilant and take immediate action if something seems off.
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