Tumakuru Retired Employee Scammed of ₹18.5 Lakh via Fake ‘Aadhaar Update' Bank Link

A retired employee from Siddhartha Nagar in Tumakuru has fallen victim to an elaborate cyber scam, losing ₹18.5 lakh after being deceived by fraudsters posing as bank officials. The scam unfolded on November 5 when the victim, identified as Kantaraju, was added to a WhatsApp group named “Union Bank of India,” which later proved to be a fraudulent channel created by cybercriminals.

According to Kantaraju’s complaint, the group sent him a file labelled “Union Bank Aadhaar Update APK.” Believing the communication to be genuine, Kantaraju downloaded the file, which was the first step in the scam. Later that day, around noon, he received a phone call from an unknown individual who claimed, “Your bank account has been updated with Aadhaar. Please check.” Trusting the information, Kantaraju accessed his bank account, only to find that several transactions had been made, transferring a total of ₹18,50,010 out of his account in multiple stages.

Realising that he had been duped, Kantaraju immediately alerted the police and a case was filed with the Tumakuru Cybercrime Police. Investigations are now underway, with authorities working to track the perpetrators behind the scam.

This incident has raised serious concerns about the increasing number of cybercrimes in the region, particularly those involving fraudulent Aadhaar update links and phishing tactics. In recent months, many citizens have reported similar cases where scammers impersonate banks or government institutions, convincing individuals to download malicious apps or disclose sensitive banking details.

Authorities are advising the public to be cautious when receiving unsolicited messages or calls related to banking services. They warn people not to click on unfamiliar links or download files from unknown sources, as these are often tactics used by cybercriminals to gain access to personal and financial information.

In the case of Kantaraju, the fraudsters were able to bypass his security by sending a seemingly legitimate notification, making it difficult for him to identify the scam until it was too late.

Following the complaint, Tumakuru Cybercrime Police have initiated an investigation to trace the scammers. Meanwhile, police officials have urged all citizens to immediately report any suspicious banking communications and to regularly update their account security features, such as changing passwords and enabling two-factor authentication.

The police have also recommended that individuals verify any bank-related updates directly with their respective banks using official contact details rather than responding to unsolicited calls or messages.

Kantaraju’s case serves as a stark reminder of the increasing sophistication of cyber fraud, and experts are calling for greater awareness and vigilance, especially among elderly individuals and those less familiar with digital banking.