Cyber Fraud in Himachal Pradesh: ₹11.55 Crore Stolen from Bank

A major cyber fraud incident in Himachal Pradesh has resulted in the theft of ₹11.55 crore from the State Cooperative Bank. The criminals hacked into the bank's server using a customer's mobile phone, transferring the funds to multiple accounts. The bank became aware of the fraud days later due to holiday delays in transaction reporting. Authorities are investigating the case, and customers are urged to remain vigilant about their banking security. This incident underscores the importance of safeguarding personal banking information to prevent future cyber crimes.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 18, 2025, 11:15 IST

Overview of the Cyber Crime Incident

Cyber Crime: A significant cyber fraud occurred at the Himachal Pradesh State Cooperative Bank, resulting in a loss of ₹11.55 crore. The perpetrators managed to hack into the bank's server using a customer's mobile phone. They accessed the mobile banking app of a client from the Halti branch in Chamba district and siphoned off ₹11.55 crore, which was subsequently transferred to 20 different bank accounts.

Details of the Incident

Incident Timeline

The state cyber cell reported that this incident took place on May 11 and 12, with the bank becoming aware of it on May 14. The delay in reporting was due to the bank's holidays, which prevented the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) from sending the transaction report. Upon reviewing the report on May 14, the bank realized the fraud had occurred and promptly filed a complaint at the Sadar police station in Shimla. The case was later transferred to the cyber police station in Shimla.

Funds Frozen

Funds Held for Investigation

According to DIG Cybercrime Mohit Chawla, a team from the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-in) is en route to Shimla to assist with the investigation. The bank has assured its customers that their funds are secure and that the transferred money has been put on hold.

Need for Vigilance

Importance of Customer Awareness

This is not the first occurrence of such an incident, highlighting the need for customers to remain vigilant. They should avoid sharing their mobile banking details with anyone and use strong passwords. The bank and police are actively working to resolve this case, and it is crucial for everyone to stay alert to prevent cyber fraud.