NRI's Bank Accounts Hacked: Ludhiana Police Busts Interstate Cyber-Fraud Gang, Including A HDFC Manager

An interstate cyber-fraud gang was apprehended by the Ludhiana police on Wednesday (20 September).

The gang, consisting of four individuals, allegedly used fake email IDs and stole bank account data to withdraw Rs 57 lakh from the account of a non-resident Indian (NRI).

One of the four arrested persons was identified as a "relationship manager" from HDFC Bank, according to the police.

Following the complaint made by the victim, the police were able to recover Rs 17.35 lakh from the arrested individuals. Additionally, Rs 7.24 lakh was immediately frozen in the bank accounts of the accused.

Ludhiana Police Commissioner Mandeep Singh Sidhu revealed that the gang operated across multiple states, including Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Punjab.

Their modus operandi involved stealing data from banks and defrauding unsuspecting individuals.

Ramandeep Singh Grewal, an NRI, reported that Rs 57 lakh was fraudulently withdrawn from his three bank accounts in HDFC Bank. As a result, an investigation was initiated by Sidhu.

During the investigation, it was discovered that Sukhjit Singh, a relationship manager at HDFC Bank, sold Grewal's bank account information to Kumar Luv for Rs 14 lakh.

Additionally, they created fake email addresses for Grewal and fraudulently registered his mobile number under the name of Vakeel Singh from Faridkot. They then linked his accounts to the fake email addresses and withdrew the funds.

The individuals who were arrested in connection with the case are Kumar Luv from Gaya, Bihar, Neelesh Pandey from Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, Abhishek Singh from Greater Noida, and Sukhjit Singh from GK Vihar Extension, Ludhiana.

Two other accomplices, Kiran Devi from Ballabgarh in Faridabad, Haryana, and Sneha from Threekey, Ludhiana, are still at large.

A FIR was registered at Sadar police station under sections 420, 120-B, 506 IPC, and 66-C, 66-D of the Information Technology Act.

The police investigation has resulted in the recovery of various items, including cash amounting to Rs 17.35 lakh, Rs 7.24 lakh that has been frozen, an Apple MacBook, eight ATM cards, and four mobile phones.

These findings were reported by the authorities, shedding light on the extent of the case's implications.