Silent withdrawals trigger cyber fraud probe in Ahmedabad
A cyber fraud complaint from Shela on the outskirts of Ahmedabad has drawn attention after a 35-year-old software engineer reported that nearly ₹6.8 lakh was removed from his finances without any OTP being shared, any transaction being approved, or any alert reaching his phone. According to the complaint, the losses were spread across bank accounts and credit card transactions, raising serious questions about how the money could move without the usual customer warnings.
The complainant, who works from home for a Bengaluru-based technology company, said he discovered the issue only when he visited one of his banks on Aug 3 to obtain an account statement. That statement allegedly showed a debit of ₹1.5 lakh from his savings account. After reviewing his other financial records, he reportedly found two more withdrawals of ₹1.5 lakh each from other bank accounts.
The suspected losses did not stop there. A check of his credit card statements allegedly revealed three additional transactions of ₹95,000, ₹49,975 and ₹90,000. Taken together, the withdrawals and card usage amounted to nearly ₹6.8 lakh. In his complaint to police, the engineer said he had not shared his account details, card information, passwords or one-time passwords with anyone, and that none of the transactions generated an SMS or mobile notification.
What the police complaint says
Based on the FIR registered with Bopal police, investigators are examining whether the man’s banking information or devices may have been accessed without his knowledge. The absence of alerts is a key part of the case, because many customers rely on banking notifications as an early warning system. In this instance, the complainant said he remained unaware of the debits until he manually checked his statements.
The complaint also mentions suspicion regarding a cousin who had stayed at the engineer’s home for four days shortly before the transactions came to light. The relative had reportedly left by the time the alleged theft was discovered. Police have not confirmed any individual’s role, and the investigation remains focused on evidence such as transaction logs, device access records, digital evidence and the trail of funds.
Why this case matters
This Ahmedabad case highlights an important reality in cyber fraud investigations: a lack of OTP sharing does not automatically rule out unauthorised financial access. Fraud can sometimes involve compromised devices, stored credentials, card misuse, or other methods that bypass a customer’s direct approval. For that reason, investigators typically look beyond customer statements and examine the complete technical trail before drawing conclusions.
The case also serves as a reminder that checking only phone alerts may not always be enough. Customers are often advised to review bank accounts and credit card statements regularly, especially if they use multiple financial products. Unusual debits, failed alerts or unfamiliar card charges should be reported promptly to the bank, the cyber fraud reporting system and the police to improve the chances of tracing funds.
Before approaching Bopal police, the engineer said he had already reported the matter through the National Cyber Crime Helpline. Police are now working to determine exactly how the transactions were carried out and whether any digital systems, account credentials or personal devices were misused. Until that process is complete, the exact method behind the alleged theft remains unconfirmed.
Key Terms
- OTP: One-Time Password, a temporary security code sent to verify a login or payment.
- FIR: First Information Report, the official police record used to register a complaint about a possible crime.
- Debit: Money that has been taken out of a bank account.
- Credit card statement: A record showing transactions, charges and payments linked to a credit card.
- Transaction log: A digital record that shows when and how a financial transaction took place.
- Device access: Whether someone was able to use or enter a phone, computer or another digital device.
- National Cyber Crime Helpline: A government reporting channel for cyber fraud and online financial crime complaints.
- Digital evidence: Electronic data, such as phone records, system activity or online traces, that may help an investigation.
