The East CEN Crime Police Station has registered a cybercrime case after a 62-year-old man allegedly lost ₹7.44 lakh from his bank account in what investigators suspect to be a SIM-swap fraud.

According to the complaint, the victim’s mobile phone number unexpectedly stopped functioning between May 31 and June 7, leaving him unable to make or receive calls and messages. The disruption occurred despite his mobile service remaining active with sufficient balance and validity extending until August 2026.

The complainant said the sudden loss of connectivity caused concern, prompting him to approach a mobile service centre in Kammanahalli for assistance.

Mobile number inactive for days

At the service centre, officials reportedly informed him that the issue would be resolved within 48 hours. However, the resolution timeline was later extended by another 24 hours. The mobile number eventually resumed normal functioning only on June 10.

It was only after the service was restored that the victim allegedly discovered unauthorised transactions from his bank account. Preliminary findings suggest that ₹7.44 lakh had been withdrawn during the period when his mobile number remained inactive.

Investigators suspect that cybercriminals may have carried out a SIM-swap fraud, a method in which fraudsters gain control of a victim’s mobile number by obtaining a duplicate SIM card. Once access is secured, they can intercept banking alerts, OTPs and authentication messages to conduct unauthorised transactions.

Police launch investigation

Following the complaint, the East CEN Crime Police registered a case and initiated an investigation into the suspected fraud. Police are examining banking records, mobile service details and digital transaction trails to identify those responsible.

Officials have urged citizens to remain vigilant if their mobile numbers suddenly stop functioning without explanation, especially when linked to banking services. They advised customers to immediately alert both their telecom provider and bank if they suspect unauthorised access.

Further investigation is underway