“Sir, can I just make a quick call to my wife? My phone’s dead.”
Murlidhar Gajbhiye, the 70-year-old owner of the venue, nodded and handed over his phone, unaware that this small act of trust would nearly cost him his bank account.
“Sure, beta,” he said, fishing out his smartphone. “Just don’t take too long, the battery drains fast.”
What Gajbhiye didn’t realize, and what many senior citizens across India still don’t, is that some scams no longer happen in shady corners with masked faces. They happen in daylight.
With smiles. And one simple favor.
The Perfect Setup: Trust First, Tech Later
On April 21, what began as a genuine hall booking inquiry turned out to be a setup for something far more sinister.
Sattar Kutubuddin Ansari, the man posing as a customer, wasn’t there to plan a celebration. He had already planned something — a SIM swap fraud. And all he needed was a moment alone with Gajbhiye’s phone.
Unbeknownst to the 70-year-old, while pretending to dial a number, Ansari carefully removed the SIM card from the phone and inserted a duplicate — a forged one prepared to mirror the victim’s mobile number. A classic bait-and-switch.
“I couldn’t get through. Must be network issues,” Ansari said with a shrug, handing back the phone. Then he left, politely, casually, just like any other customer.
But the storm was just beginning.
The Bank Smelled Something Off
Soon after walking away with the real SIM, Ansari entered a local Canara Bank branch. He approached the counter and said he wanted to update the KYC for his account.
He was calm, composed, even cheerful.
But something felt…off.
“Sir, can I please see an ID again?” the bank executive asked, noticing inconsistencies in the documents.
Ansari hesitated. His confidence cracked just enough to raise a red flag.
Moments later, the bank called the number registered with the account, now reactivated using the swapped SIM. Ansari answered, trying to play along. But the real Gajbhiye, confused after receiving no signal on his phone for hours, had already contacted the bank.
The pieces fell into place quickly.
Ansari was caught red-handed.
FIR Filed, But the Wound Stays Fresh
The police didn’t waste time. Gittikhadan Police took Ansari in custody, with further investigation ongoing.
Police Sub-Inspector Gede later said in a statement, “It was the alertness of bank staff that saved the victim. Had the KYC gone through, the accused would’ve had access to the victim’s entire bank account.”
In simpler words — this could’ve been a ₹5 lakh hit. Or worse.
Lessons in Trust and Tech
Scams like these aren’t rare anymore. And what makes them dangerous is their fusion of the old and the new. A simple request. A real SIM card. A fake digital trail.
Gajbhiye, still shaken, told local reporters later,
“Who thinks someone would cheat you while pretending to book your hall? I’ve had hundreds of people visit. No one ever asked for my phone before. I thought it was harmless.”
And that’s the point. Scammers know exactly how to build trust — and how to exploit it.
What We Can Learn
The elderly remain especially vulnerable to such hybrid scams. It’s not just about knowing how to use a smartphone anymore — it’s about understanding how smartphones can be used against you.
So here’s what you should remember:
- Never hand over your phone to strangers — no matter how innocent the request.
- Monitor mobile signal drops and messages from telecom operators, especially ones you didn’t initiate.
- Immediately contact your bank and mobile provider if your SIM suddenly stops working.
- Teach your elderly family members about SIM swap scams. A simple conversation can prevent a massive loss.
Final Thought
We often assume cyber fraud happens online, with hackers in dark rooms typing away at stolen data. But as this story shows, sometimes, it walks right up to you, smiles, and asks to borrow your phone.
Don’t let trust become your weakest link.
