MAPUSA
In a significant breakthrough, Mapusa Police have arrested two persons in connection with a fraud case involving impersonation and conspiracy to cheat a bank.
The accused, identified as Mohammad Hasim of New Delhi and Mustaq Ahmed from Uttar Pradesh, allegedly impersonated a bank customer with the help of a bank official and other unidentified associates, as part of an elaborate scheme to siphon off money from customer accounts.
The police revealed that the accused duo and their co-conspirators meticulously planned the fraud with the intent to illegally transfer funds from the accounts of unsuspecting bank customers. The key element of the plan involved the use of forged documents and impersonation tactics to manipulate the bank’s internal processes.
According to authorities, Hasim posed as a genuine bank customer by presenting a fake identity card to the bank.
With this fake identity, he successfully convinced the bank officials that he was the account holder. Once inside the system, he forged the signature of the real customer on a form that is typically used to change the registered phone number linked to a bank account. The new phone number, once linked to the account, played a crucial role in the fraudulent activities.
As most banking transactions require confirmation through one-time passwords (OTPs) sent to the registered mobile number, the fraudulent phone number allowed the perpetrators to gain control of the victim’s account without raising suspicion.
Using the new number, Hasim and his accomplices were able to authorize transactions and illegally withdraw money from the customer’s bank account. The police believe this was not an isolated incident and that Hasim, along with the unnamed bank official, may have been part of a larger network targeting other customers of the bank.
Mapusa Police have registered a case under relevant sections of the BNS, including those related to forgery, impersonation, criminal conspiracy, and cheating.
A senior police officer involved in the case stated, “This is a serious case of fraud, and we are working on multiple leads to trace all individuals involved in this criminal conspiracy. We urge the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities related to their bank accounts.”
Further investigations are on.
