A 26-year-old man in Bengaluru was allegedly cheated of ₹50,000 by a stranger inside an ATM kiosk in Banashankari, after he attempted to urgently transfer money for his mother’s medical treatment.

Desperation during emergency led to costly mistake

According to police, Shivaprakash, a private firm employee residing in Banashankari II Stage, rushed to an ATM on April 3 after learning that his mother, Bhuma, had been hospitalised in Tamil Nadu’s Tiruvannamalai district.

Pressed for time, he arranged ₹50,000 through his wife and headed to a State Bank of India ATM to transfer the funds.

Stranger exploits situation inside ATM kiosk

While inside the kiosk, a man in his 30s approached Shivaprakash and initiated a conversation. Noticing his distress, the stranger offered assistance, claiming he could help transfer the money using a digital payment method.

The accused reportedly said his own debit card was not working and suggested transferring the money through PhonePe. Trusting him in the moment, Shivaprakash handed over the cash and shared his brother’s payment details.

Fake screenshot used to deceive victim

Within minutes, the accused showed a transaction screenshot as proof and quickly left the kiosk after sharing a mobile number. However, the victim later discovered that no money had been credited.

Police suspect the fraudster used a fabricated or AI-generated screenshot to convince the victim that the transfer had been completed.

Threats issued when contacted

When Shivaprakash attempted to contact the accused, initial calls went unanswered. On eventually reaching him, the suspect allegedly issued threats, warning him against pursuing the matter further.

Police launch investigation

A case has been registered at Banashankari police station under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including charges of cheating, forgery, use of forged electronic records, and criminal intimidation.

Investigators are currently analysing CCTV footage from the ATM kiosk and nearby areas to identify and trace the accused.

Rising concern over digital fraud tactics

The incident highlights the growing sophistication of scams involving digital payments and fake transaction proofs. Authorities have urged citizens to avoid trusting strangers in financial matters and to verify transactions independently before handing over money.