Fraudster posing as company executive dupes bank of Rs 15.65 lakh

Bhopal: A fraudster posing as an executive of a private company allegedly duped a nationalised bank of Rs 15.65 lakh through two RTGS transfers, police said on Friday.The fraud was reported at the bank’s branch in Piplani on Aug 18. Police have registered a case against the unidentified caller and the holders of the beneficiary accounts.According to the branch manager, the caller contacted the branch around 3.42 pm, claiming to represent a company director, and sought information on fixed deposit interest rates. At around 4.05 pm, he called again, saying the company’s cheque book had run out, and two RTGS transfers were urgently required.When advised to use internet banking, the caller said adding beneficiaries would take several hours and sought details for RTGS transactions without a cheque. He later sent emails from an address purportedly belonging to the director, followed by an authorisation letter and signed vouchers.After matching the signature with the specimen on record, the bank transferred Rs 7.55 lakh to an account in a nationalised bank. On receiving another email purportedly from the director, it transferred Rs 8.10 lakh to an account in a private bank despite insufficient funds for the second transaction.The fraud came to light when a company representative contacted the branch around 7.45 pm. The bank alerted its departments and sought to put the beneficiary accounts on hold.Police said they are examining the caller’s number, emails, accounts and the transaction trail.