Recently, in a village called Chhapora in the Sakti district, at a distance of about 250 kilometers from Chattisgarh’s capital, Raipur, a fake branch of the State Bank of India (SBI) was discovered. The fake branch that had been operational for only ten days before the scam was unearthed has succeeded in duping job seekers over 12 lakhs.
छत्तीसगढ़ के सक्ति जिले के छपोरा में ठगों ने @TheOfficialSBI का नकली बैंक खोल दिया। बैंक में कैश काउंटर, सिस्टम, प्रिंटर से लेकर स्टाफ सबकी व्यवस्था थी कि किसी को शक ना हो। पुलिस और बैंक की नाक के नीचे मेन मार्केट में बैंक की फर्जी ब्रांच चलती रही। जब लोगों ने शक के आधार पर… pic.twitter.com/aP1m2QiexE
— Rupesh Gupta (@RupeshGuptaReal) September 29, 2024
How did it defraud the people?
The duplicate SBI, however, did not target the villagers. Instead, it made job aspirants its prey by luring them with job offers at India’s most trusted banking networks. The fake branch operated with only six employees, including a college student as a security guard. All six of them were promised high-paying Government jobs at the branch in return for a payment. The victims include Sangeeta Kavar from Korba, who paid Rs 2.5 lakh; Lakshmi Yadav from Korba, who was defrauded of Rs 2 lakh; Pintu Dhruve from Kawardha, who paid Rs 5.8 lakh, along with Parmeshwar Rathore from Korba, who lost Rs 3 lakh for the coveted job.
25-year-old Pintu Dhruve, a BA graduate, was offered the role of a cashier. Content with his role, he diligently went to his office on time for ten days before his life took a dramatic turn at the discovery of the truth. He came to know about the job opening from his sister’s friend, Renuka Sahu, who convinced him of the cash payment in order to secure the job.
How did it all unfold?
While there might have been an iota of suspicion in the minds of the new recruits, the satisfaction of securing a government job was overpowering to overcome any such suspicion. As Pintu Dhruve reveals, he received an “offer letter” that promised him a monthly salary ranging between Rs. 25000-30000. Despite the lack of ID cards, any substantial work, and proper training, he, like other recruits, was convinced by the seemingly grand infrastructure. The fake SBI branch was set up at a rented commercial space for a monthly payment of Rs. 7000. The office had ten computers and a large hall comprising 3-4 rooms adorned with premium glass and wood furniture with distinct cabins and work desks.
Although the sudden emergence of an SBI branch was cause enough to generate suspicion among the resident villagers, the constant shooing of customers strengthened the suspicion. Whenever residents approached the bank for any information regarding Government schemes or even for opening accounts, they were told that the bank was awaiting server approval; hence, they currently do not offer any kind of banking service. In fact, the recruits themselves were instructed to follow the SBI online website and train themselves. Moreover, the security guard had no formal uniform. The fake branch manager, who was known as “Pankaj Sir,” usually entered at 10 am and left at noon before stopping to pay a visit altogether.
The fraud came to light when a local resident villager named Ajay Kumar Agarwal applied for an SBI kiosk in Chhapora. He was suspicious about the sudden blooming of a State Bank branch in his area, as the nearest legitimate branch was in Dabra. Ajay found it difficult to digest the fact that a new branch could open without prior notice. He investigated on his own to find discrepancies in the employees’ responses, and the discovery of the absence of a genuine branch code was the final nail in the coffin.
He took it upon himself to report the suspicious goings-on to the Dabra branch manager. The branch manager, upon further investigation, confirmed the fake branch and informed the Police. The Police, on arrival, found an absence of any valid banking documents who then confiscated computer systems and hard drives from the fake branch.
Is there any precedent for such fraud?
While financial fraud is on the rise in India, which mainly takes the form of cyber fraud and fraudsters posing as bank officials, coming up with an entire branch is quite an innovation. However, this is not the first time that conmen and fraudsters successfully duped customers in the name of a fake SBI branch. Earlier in 2020, in Tamil Nadu, a similar incident took place where three men, including the son of former bank employees, operated a fake SBI branch in Panruti for three months.
The mastermind of the crime, Kamal Babu, whose both parents had been former bank employees, ran the duplicate SBI branch along with two men who were into the printing business. The trio was able to successfully put up the stunt until a customer grew suspicious of the branch and reported to the branch manager of the real SBI branch, which led to the investigation and subsequent unearthing of the scam.
What follows the incident?
Police booked Pankaj, Renuka Sahu, and Mandhir Das for cheating on September 27 under sections Sections 3(5), 318(4), 336, 338, and 340 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. As all the three accused have fled the spot, no arrest has been made till now, according to the Malkharoda Police Station in-charge Rajesh Patel.
The incident had serious repercussions on the victims as many of them mortgaged their property or jewelry and took loans from family and friends with the hope of repaying the loans in the future. As the security of the government job faded with the uncovering of the scam, so did the hope. Now, they have landed into financial trouble and emotional stress with no solution ahead.
FAQ
1. How did the fake State Bank of India branch in Chhattisgarh operate?
The fake branch lured job seekers with promises of high-paying government jobs in exchange for a payment. It operated with a small staff and a seemingly legitimate office setup.
2. How were the victims deceived by the fake branch?
The victims were convinced by the seemingly legitimate office setup, promises of high salaries, and lack of awareness about the actual State Bank branch in the area. They were also misled by the fake branch’s claim of waiting for server approval and not offering banking services yet.
3. How was the scam uncovered?
A local resident who applied for an SBI kiosk in the area grew suspicious of the sudden emergence of the fake branch and began investigating. He discovered discrepancies and reported the suspicious activities to the branch manager of a nearby legitimate SBI branch.
4. What were the consequences for the victims of the scam?
The victims faced significant financial and emotional distress after the scam was exposed. They had invested money in the hope of securing government jobs and now faced financial difficulties.
5. Are there any previous instances of similar scams in India?
Yes, there have been previous cases of fake banks operating in India. In 2020, a similar incident occurred in Tamil Nadu where a fake State Bank branch defrauded customers for three months.
6. What actions have been taken against the perpetrators of the scam?
The police have filed charges against the individuals involved in the scam and are actively investigating the case. However, the accused have fled the scene and remain at large.