Senior Paediatrician Alleges Nearly Rs 7 Lakh Cyber Fraud From UCO Bank Account

A senior paediatrician has alleged that nearly Rs 7 lakh was withdrawn from his UCO Bank account through multiple transactions between July 6 and July 15, despite his claim that he neither shared an OTP nor used internet banking during the period. The doctor has approached cybercrime authorities, seeking an investigation into the transactions, tracing of the transferred funds and their recovery.

Unauthorised Transactions Reported

The doctor, who maintains an account at the bank’s Purvasha branch, said he had been in Kolkata for nearly a month while undergoing treatment for an eye-related condition. During his stay, he claimed to have significantly reduced his mobile phone usage and generally operated his bank account through cheques.

According to his complaint, an unidentified caller contacted his family while he was away and allegedly claimed to be calling from the bank. The caller reportedly asked for an OTP for verification. The doctor’s wife answered the call and allegedly told the caller that the family would directly contact the bank if any verification was required. The complaint states that no OTP was shared.

The alleged unauthorised transactions came to light after the doctor returned to Agartala and visited the bank on August 7 to withdraw money. He was then informed that several transactions had been carried out from his account during the preceding days, involving nearly Rs 7 lakh.

Doctor Questions How Transactions Were Authorised

Bank officials subsequently advised the doctor that he may have been a victim of cyber fraud. The doctor, however, questioned how the transactions could have been conducted without his knowledge, claiming that he had neither opted for internet banking nor used an ATM card.

He further alleged that bank officials informed him that transaction alerts had been sent to his registered mobile number. The doctor questioned whether the receipt of SMS alerts alone could establish that the transactions were authorised, particularly as he had been away from Agartala and was using his phone only to a limited extent during his treatment.

The doctor also alleged that he did not receive a satisfactory explanation from the bank regarding how the transactions were conducted or what measures were being taken to recover the money. He was instead advised to approach the cybercrime authorities.

Cybercrime Investigation Underway

The doctor subsequently approached the cybercrime unit and was directed to lodge a complaint with the concerned police station. According to his account, questions were also raised about why he had not checked the transaction messages received on his mobile phone.

Authorities are examining the allegations. At present, it has not been established how the transactions were initiated, how they were authenticated or whether any banking credentials were compromised.

The investigation will examine the transaction trail, the channels through which the money was transferred and the beneficiary accounts involved. The complainant has requested a detailed investigation and sought steps to trace and recover the allegedly withdrawn funds.

Earlier Cheque Fraud Mentioned

The doctor also referred to an earlier alleged cheque fraud involving around Rs 16 crore belonging to the Agartala Municipal Corporation while raising concerns over banking security.

The earlier matter is separate from the latest complaint, and there is currently no established connection between the two incidents.

Important Highlights

• A senior paediatrician has alleged that nearly Rs 7 lakh was withdrawn from his UCO Bank account through multiple transactions.
• The alleged transactions took place between July 6 and July 15.
• The doctor claims he did not share any OTP, use internet banking or use an ATM card during the period.
• He approached cybercrime authorities and sought investigation and recovery of the funds.
• Authorities are examining how the transactions were initiated and authenticated.
• The doctor also referred to a separate earlier alleged cheque fraud involving around Rs 16 crore.