Kolkata man loses Rs 42,000 via UPI app 15 minutes after phone theft
The streets of New Alipore and the Port area have witnessed multiple occurrences of a gang of pickpockets targeting mobile phones through the windows of waiting buses and local trains. After the swift theft, the culprits have been exploiting UPI apps installed on these phones, often with saved passwords, to siphon off money.
Narrating his ordeal, Ghosh shared, «I was returning from my office at Behala. I was sitting by the window of the bus, busy typing a message on my phone.
The accused, who stood outside the window, suddenly snatched the phone and ran away before I could even react. Within 15 minutes, Rs 42,000 was debited from my account.»
It wasn't until Ghosh acquired another phone and SIM card that he realized the extent of his loss. Subsequently, he filed two separate police complaints, one at the New Alipore Police Station regarding the loss of his mobile phone and another with the Bidhannagar Cyber Cell for the money he lost.
Ghosh expressed his suspicions, saying, «I do not keep passwords saved in mobile phones. I am certain it has been hacked.»
Authorities have taken note of the incidents and registered a general diary. The police are currently scrutinizing CCTV footage to identify the suspects involved in these criminal activities.
An investigating officer mentioned, «The bank could not identify a point of compromise. To them, it looked like the PIN had been entered. The only thing they could suggest was that someone knew the code.»
What's particularly concerning is that the losses incurred are no longer limited to the stolen mobile phone alone.
