No OTP, no alert, still ₹90,900 debited: How Bengaluru woman lost her money in minutes

The victim, Ritu Maheshwari, discovered that three debits of ₹30,300 each had been made between 3.24 am and 4.03 am while she was asleep.

Updated on: Oct 31, 2025, 14:37:31 IST

By Shivya Kanojia

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A Bengaluru woman has alleged that a private sector bank allowed three unauthorised transactions worth ₹90,900 from her account in the early hours of October 1, despite her not approving them.

In her complaint, the woman said she neither approved the payments nor shared any OTP. (Image-Pexels)

The victim, Ritu Maheshwari, discovered that three debits of ₹30,300 each had been made between 3.24 am and 4.03 am while she was asleep. In her complaint, she said she neither approved the payments nor shared any one-time passwords (OTPs) or authentication codes, as per a report by Bangalore Mirror.

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Despite this, the bank reportedly denied liability, claiming that the transactions were valid as OTPs had been used. Maheshwari, however, insists she had no involvement and suspects a breach in the bank’s security system.

Following her complaint, the Mico Layout Police registered a First Information Report (FIR) on October 3, 2025, under Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the Information Technology Act, 2000, which deal with identity theft and cheating by impersonation using computer resources. The complaint mentions that the unauthorised debits were made through a UPI-based payment platform.

A bank official declined to comment on the matter, saying queries must be directed to the marketing team via email. The bank has not yet responded to the email query.

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Speaking to Bangalore Mirror, Maheshwari said she immediately alerted the bank at 4.37 am on October 1, and a complaint was logged by 7.20 am. She pointed out that, according to an automated email received from the bank at 4.09 am, the bank had already detected suspicious activity and blocked her card.

As advised by the bank, Maheshwari contacted the National Cyber Crime Helpline (1930) and registered a cybercrime complaint on the same day before filing the FIR. She noted that the issue was reported within hours of the incident, well inside the Reserve Bank of India’s three-day window for reporting fraudulent transactions.

Maheshwari also claimed the bank has yet to explain how the transactions were authorised without any confirmation from her end.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shivya Kanojia
Shivya Kanojia is a journalist at Hindustan Times, where she works in the fast-paced digital news ecosystem with a strong sense of editorial judgement and a clear understanding of what makes a story both important and traffic-driven. An alumna of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Shivya brings a thoughtful balance of news value and audience relevance to her work, ensuring stories resonate beyond the immediate headline. Over the course of her three-year journey in the digital news space, Shivya has worked across a wide range of beats, including politics, civic issues, human-interest features and trending news. This diverse exposure has shaped her ability to approach stories with nuance, adaptability and context, whether she is breaking down complex developments or spotlighting everyday narratives that often go unnoticed. She is particularly drawn to human-interest stories, interviews and explainers that offer depth and clarity, aiming to move past surface-level reporting to explore the people, emotions and circumstances behind the news. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Shivya worked with Firstpost and Times Now, where she covered a broad spectrum of topics and honed her skills in digital journalism . Outside the newsroom, Shivya enjoys discovering new cafés, drawn to good coffee, cosy spaces and unhurried conversations. Shopping is another pastime she cherishes, not always out of necessity, but often guided by instinct and the simple joy of stumbling upon unexpected finds. Above all, she treasures time spent with loved ones, finding meaning in shared laughter, simple moments and memories that linger long after.Read More

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