Insurance agent loses Rs 3.20 Lakh in cyber fraud in Odisha’s Bhadrak

An insurance agent was allegedly cheated of Rs 3.20 lakh in a cyber fraud incident reported from Dalang village under the Dhamnagar police station area in Odisha’s Bhadrak district. The amount was withdrawn in phases from three separate bank accounts, following which the victim lodged a complaint with the police.

The victim has been identified as Bharat Chandra Barik, an insurance agent by profession. According to his complaint, money was first siphoned off from his Central Bank account and later from two UCO Bank accounts.

Suspicious Messages and OTP Alerts Raise Alarm

Barik said he became aware of the unauthorised transactions after receiving multiple alerts on his mobile phone. Although he could not immediately understand how the money was withdrawn, he noticed transaction messages and repeated OTP alerts being sent to his phone.

Explaining the incident, Barik said that Rs 1.40 lakh was deducted in 10 instalments from his Central Bank account in Bhadrak. In addition, Rs 1.81 lakh was withdrawn from his two UCO Bank accounts.

He said that after contacting the bank’s toll-free number, he was informed that it was a case of cyber fraud and was advised to call the national cybercrime helpline number 1930 and approach the police.

Fraud Triggered After Clicking Suspicious Link

According to reports, Barik received a suspicious link on his mobile phone on Saturday night. After clicking on the link, nearly Rs 1 lakh was immediately deducted from one of his UCO Bank accounts. Subsequently, unauthorised withdrawals were also made from his other two accounts.

Reports suggest that fraudsters are sending deceptive messages claiming that the recipient has received money through an online payment application. When the recipient clicks on the link, the miscreants gain access to banking credentials and personal information, enabling them to siphon off funds.

Police Register Case, Investigation Underway

Following the incident, Barik lodged a written FIR at the Dhamnagar police station. Police registered a case and launched an investigation into the cyber fraud.

Also Read: Inter-state cyber fraud gang busted in Bhubaneswar, 60 mobiles seized

As part of the probe, all three bank accounts of the victim have been frozen. Police have urged people to remain cautious and avoid clicking on unknown or suspicious links received through messages or social media.