SBI Staff Save Elderly Doctor from ₹30 Lakh Digital Scam
Staff at the SBI Lothukunta branch in Hyderabad stopped a digital scam targeting a 78-year-old doctor.
On November 27, 2024, SBI Hyderabad Circle shared that the doctor wanted to close his Senior Citizen Savings Scheme (SCSS) account and transfer ₹30 lakh to his savings account. Branch Manager Naveen Kumar became suspicious when the customer received repeated calls urging him to act quickly.
The doctor said he needed the money for his wife’s treatment for a brain hemorrhage. However, after checking with the hospital, the bank found no such patient. Suspecting fraud, the bank alerted its Regional Business Office, which confirmed the scam after verifying with the hospital.
The police were contacted, and the doctor shared how scammers had tricked him. One posed as a Delhi Customs Officer, claiming a parcel with 16 passports and ATM cards had arrived in his name. Another, pretending to be from Delhi Crime Police, accused him of being linked to ₹88 crore in money laundering through 30 fake bank accounts using his Aadhaar card. The scammers pressured him to close his account and move the money.
Thanks to the quick action by SBI staff, the doctor was saved from losing ₹30 lakh. SBI reminded customers to report fraud attempts by calling 1930 or visiting www.cybercrime.gov.in.
