Madhubani: In Madhubani district of Bihar, a poor family has lost all its savings after becoming the victim of a cyber crime. Shobhita Devi, who lives in Rauahi village under the Babubarhi police station area, saw Rs 2.16 lakh disappear from her bank account within a single day. The shocking part is that the money was withdrawn without her knowledge through dozens of online UPI transactions. The incident has created fear among villagers and raised questions about how unsafe digital banking can be for people who are not fully aware of cyber risks.
Shobhita Devi has an account at the Khojpur branch of Punjab National Bank. A few days before the money went missing, she went to the bank because she was not receiving transaction messages on her mobile phone. A bank worker took her phone and checked it for about 10 to 15 minutes before giving it back. Later, her 14-year-old son, Jagannath Kumar, was approached by their neighbour’s son, Sonu Yadav, who asked him for his mother’s ATM card, Aadhaar card, and mobile phone. The child trusted him and handed over the items, which were returned after some time.
Sonu Yadav then told the boy that the mobile phone would work only if he pressed the zero button six times. On the same day, Rs 2.16 lakh was taken from Shobhita Devi’s bank account through 40 to 50 UPI transactions. The family did not receive any message or alert on the phone. They remained unaware of the fraud until Shobhita Devi went to the bank to withdraw money. The bank manager then told her that there was no money left in her account.
After learning about the fraud, Shobhita Devi immediately reported the case on the cyber crime online portal. She later went to the district cyber police station with the complaint number and registered a formal FIR against Sonu Yadav. The police have started investigating the case. The family hopes that the money can be recovered and the people responsible will be punished.
Shobhita Devi’s husband, Dinesh Yadav, is a daily wage labourer. The couple has three daughters and one son, and the stolen money was their hard-earned savings. The incident has become a warning for others in the area. Police have advised people not to share their ATM cards, PIN numbers, Aadhaar details, or mobile phones with anyone. This case shows how a small mistake can lead to a huge loss in today’s digital world.
