It took six weeks for the retired banker to muster enough courage to report the disappearance of Rs 22.92 crore.
DAILY get-togethers in South Delhi’s upmarket Gulmohar Park, strolls in the colony park, adda with close friends and visits to the club — none of these over the past six weeks felt unusual for family, friends and neighbours of 78-year old retired banker Naresh Malhotra. But it was in this period when he visited a branch of three banks where he held an account to transfer a total of Rs 22.92 crore in 21 transactions to 16 different bank accounts.
Journalism of Courage
- Delhi’s biggest ‘digital arrest’ fraud: Rs 22.92 crore stolen, split in 7 layers via 4,236 transactions
Delhi’s biggest ‘digital arrest’ fraud: Rs 22.92 crore stolen, split in 7 layers via 4,236 transactions
It took six weeks for the retired banker to muster enough courage to report the disappearance of Rs 22.92 crore.
According to Joint Commissioner Gupta, Rs 2.67 crore of Malhotra’s funds have been frozen in various bank accounts till date.
DAILY get-togethers in South Delhi’s upmarket Gulmohar Park, strolls in the colony park, adda with close friends and visits to the club — none of these over the past six weeks felt unusual for family, friends and neighbours of 78-year old retired banker Naresh Malhotra. But it was in this period when he visited a branch of three banks where he held an account to transfer a total of Rs 22.92 crore in 21 transactions to 16 different bank accounts.
The managers of the bank branches from where he transferred such large funds too didn’t suspect any foul play — in one bank branch, he would have a cup of tea while money was being moved out. But Malhotra was under “digital arrest”, taking permission from the scammers who claimed to be officers
The police have also urged people to stay cautious and report any suspicious online activity to the Cyber Helpline number 1930 or via the official cybercrime.gov.in portal.
CyberSathhi.com advises readers to follow essential Do’s and Don’ts to stay safe:
Do’s
Verify unknown calls, links, and investment offers before responding.
Use strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication.
Report cyber fraud immediately to 1930 or cybercrime.gov.in.
Keep your mobile and banking apps updated.
Don’ts
Don’t share OTP, PIN, or banking details with anyone.
Don’t trust “too good to be true” schemes online.
Don’t download suspicious apps or click on random links.
Don’t delay reporting fraud—quick action increases recovery chances.
For more updates and safety tips, visit CyberSathhi.com