Cyber Fraud Forces Soldier to Journey 2500 KM to Reactivate Bank Account

Pune: A soldier stationed at the Kargil border had to endure significant mental distress and a 2,500-kilometer journey to Pune, all due to a cyber fraud involving a mere ₹525.

The incident began when cyber fraudsters deposited ₹525 into the soldier’s bank account without his knowledge. Such scams are becoming common, with criminals luring individuals by promising high returns on stock market investments or threatening legal action by investigative agencies.

Once the fraud is in motion, the thieves deposit a small amount of money into the victim's account before quickly withdrawing it via online methods. Unfortunately, this deposit triggered the freezing of the soldier's account to prevent further fraudulent activity.

The soldier first attempted to resolve the issue locally by visiting the bank in the Kargil region. However, he soon learned that his account had been frozen by the Pune police due to the fraudulent deposit.

This forced him to take emergency leave and embark on a long and exhausting 2,500-kilometer journey to Pune, where his bank was located.

Once in Pune, the soldier approached the Cyber Police Station to file a formal complaint. The police promptly investigated the matter, verifying the soldier's identity and confirming his ownership of the account.

After conducting the necessary checks, the police issued a letter to the bank, instructing them to reactivate the soldier's account. Only after these steps were completed was the soldier able to access his funds once again.

Cyber experts emphasize that once a fraudulent deposit is made, it is possible to freeze only the fraudulent amount, allowing the account holder to continue with other bank transactions.

However, in practice, entire accounts are often frozen, leading to significant inconvenience, especially when large sums of money are involved, as was the case with the soldier.

Senior Police Inspector Swapnali Shinde of the Cyber Police Station in Shivajinagar acknowledged the issue, stating that the police are working to streamline the process. She also emphasized the importance of account holders promptly submitting the necessary documents to expedite the reactivation of accounts frozen due to cyber fraud.