Retired Bank Manager Scammed of ₹20 Lakh via Facebook Ad: Kolkata Police Bust Interstate Cyber Fraud Gang

KOLKATA, February 27, 2026 — In a chilling reminder that even financial experts are not immune to sophisticated cybercrime, a retired bank manager from Kolkata’s Garfa area was defrauded of ₹20 lakh through a fraudulent Facebook advertisement.

The victim, who spent his career managing bank operations, fell prey to a deceptive “Pension Card” offer targeted at former employees. After clicking the ad, he was contacted via WhatsApp by an individual posing as a representative of a prominent public sector bank, who persuaded him to download a malicious app titled “Pensions Card Dispatch for Ex-Employee & Retired Manager.”The application was, in reality, a dangerous APK (Android Package Kit) file designed to grant hackers full remote access to the victim’s smartphone and integrated banking apps.

Within minutes of the installation on February 7, the fraudsters bypassed security protocols and siphoned off ₹20 lakh from his account. Following a formal complaint, the Cyber Crime Division of the Detective Department launched a two-week intensive digital investigation, utilizing advanced technical surveillance and data analysis to track the digital footprint of the organized interstate syndicate.

The crackdown culminated on February 24, as police conducted multiple raids across North 24 Parganas and Entally. Authorities arrested six key operatives: Sayan Rajbanshi, Arindam Das, Shouvik Bepari, Arpan Das, Dildar Ansari, and Anish Sarkar. These individuals allegedly served as the “logistics arm” of the gang, providing active SIM cards and “mule” bank accounts to senior handlers based in Jharkhand.

During the operation, police seized 16 mobile phones, 10 active SIMs, multiple ATM cards, passbooks, ₹8 lakh in cash, gold jewelry, luxury watches, and a vehicle. The investigation remains ongoing as police work to dismantle the entire cross-border network and recover the remaining stolen funds.