Bank Manager Saves Retired Teacher from Losing ₹90 Lakh to Cyber Fraud in Prayagraj

Prayagraj: A 63-year-old retired teacher narrowly escaped losing her life savings to cyber fraud, thanks to the vigilance of bank staff in Prayagraj. On 31 December 2025, cyber criminals “digitally arrested” Chanchal Srivastava, prompting her to rush to Punjab National Bank to transfer ₹90 lakh from her fixed deposit (FD) to a savings account.

Chanchal Srivastava, a resident of Clive Road in Civil Lines, was approached by fraudsters who created panic, claiming digital legal action against her. At around 1:30 PM, she met bank employee Neetu at the front desk and requested the FD withdrawal. Sensing the unusually large amount, Neetu immediately informed Chief Manager Vipin Kumar.

Suspicious Behavior Raises Alarm
During discussions with the chief manager, Chanchal gave inconsistent details, frequently hiding her phone and failing to clarify the recipient account. She claimed the money was for her son abroad to buy property. This suspicious behavior prompted the bank staff to act cautiously.

Preventive Measures and Police Involvement
Anticipating that the fraudsters would call Chanchal once she left the bank, the manager asked Neetu to discreetly follow her. As expected, the scammers contacted her outside the bank. The chief manager promptly informed the Cyber Crime Police Station, who reached the scene.

Tracking the Fraudulent Account
After about two hours of careful questioning, Chanchal revealed the intended beneficiary account—held at Kotak Mahindra Bank in Ranchi, opened in October and primarily used for high-value transactions. During the process, the cyber criminals even tried to impersonate Chanchal’s daughter and son to manipulate the bank manager. However, they failed to answer his verification questions.

Confirmation from Family Abroad
The bank manager contacted Chanchal’s real son abroad, confirming her predicament. Acting swiftly, the Cyber Crime Police stopped the transaction, preventing her from losing ₹90 lakh.

A Lifesaving Vigilance
Thanks to the alertness and professional handling by the bank staff, Chanchal Srivastava’s life-long savings of over ₹1.2 crore were preserved, highlighting the critical role of awareness and prompt action in preventing cyber fraud.

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