40 Mumbai bank customers duped of lakhs after clicking on fake SMSes

At least 40 customers of a private bank in Mumbai including TV actress Shweta Menon have been cheated of lakhs of rupees within three days after they clicked on a link sent via fake text messages asking them to immediately update their KYC and PAN details.

Mumbai Police has issued an advisory that fraudsters are sending such fake SMS messages with phishing links to the customers stating that their bank account is blocked for not updating their KYC/ PAN card details.

Such links direct the customers to a fake website in the name of their bank where they are asked to enter their customer ID, password, and other bank account details. These are then used by the fraudsters to withdraw money from the accounts.

In her complaint, Ms Memon said she had clicked on a link from the fake text message, believing it was from her bank. On the portal that opened, she entered her customer ID, passwords, and OTP.

She said she also received a phone call from a woman posing as a bank official, who asked her to insert another OTP she received on her mobile number. Following this, Rs 57,636 was debited from her account.

“Recently, fake text messages are going viral, asking to update KYC/PAN details in the name of the bank and sending links to customers stating that their bank account is blocked/ disabled/ suspended due to not updating their KYC/PAN Card,” Mumbai police said.

The notification adds that these types of frauds have increased and have asked citizens to not click on any such links.