Struggling with Cyber Fraud: Recovering Lost Funds | Indian Bank

Ans: I'm truly sorry to hear about your experience with this fraud. Cyber scams, especially in the name of part-time jobs, have become increasingly common. While you've followed the required steps, the response from the bank and RBI can be frustrating. Here’s a structured approach to help you pursue your case further:

1. File an FIR with the Cyber Crime Police Station
Since you've already filed a police complaint, ensure it’s registered as an FIR (First Information Report) if it wasn’t initially.

Visit the Cyber Crime Police Station in your city or use the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (cybercrime.gov.in). Online reports are also possible.

Cyber crime units often coordinate directly with banks, so they might offer additional support. The sooner they receive the full complaint, the better the chance to trace the transaction trail.

2. Gather Complete Documentation
Compile all relevant documents: initial complaints to the bank, emails, SMS messages, screenshots of Telegram conversations, bank statements showing the transaction, RBI complaint letters, and any other related correspondence.

This documentation will provide a thorough record of events, which is helpful for authorities and any additional escalations you make.

3. Escalate with the Banking Ombudsman
File a complaint with the Banking Ombudsman under the Reserve Bank of India if you haven't done so already. This is a separate avenue that might yield a different result.

To initiate, visit the RBI’s Banking Ombudsman page and follow the complaint process. Ensure your complaint is detailed, mentioning dates, bank interactions, and the specific RBI guidelines under which you initially acted.

4. Send a Legal Notice to the Bank
If the Banking Ombudsman process does not yield results, you may consider sending a legal notice to the bank. This may compel them to reconsider their stance.

Contact a lawyer who specializes in consumer or banking matters. The lawyer will draft a legal notice mentioning the bank's failure to act as per the initial commitment made by the branch manager.

Sometimes, this step pushes banks to act, as they prefer to avoid further legal disputes.

5. Approach the Consumer Forum
If the above steps don’t help, you may consider filing a complaint with the Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum in your district or state.

Since you suffered financial loss due to what may be considered negligence or delay from the bank's side, the Consumer Forum might provide some relief or compensation.

Provide all documentation and details, especially focusing on the timeline of events and the initial shadow reversal placed on your account.

6. Alert the Cyber Cell and RBI Ombudsman about Fraud Trends
To help prevent further fraud, report this Telegram scam with details to the Cyber Cell and the RBI fraud department. This may lead to a warning to banks about specific types of scams, potentially benefitting other customers in the future.
7. Stay Cautious of Follow-up Scams
Fraudsters sometimes target those affected by previous scams with promises of refunds. Stay cautious about any unsolicited communication that claims to assist with recovering the funds for an additional fee or transaction.
Finally: Be persistent and patient as you follow each step. Given the increasing number of cyber fraud cases, authorities are becoming more proactive in tackling these issues, but the process can be lengthy.

Best of luck with your efforts, and I hope your funds are recovered soon.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment