Bank Glitch Sends ₹1 Lakh Crore Block Message to Rajasthan Employee During Recharge, Actual Balance ₹55,000

Incident Overview

• Sameer Khan, a medical store employee based in Sikar district of Rajasthan, received an SMS from his bank while attempting a mobile recharge.
• The message claimed that ₹1 lakh crore had been blocked from his account, a sum that immediately raised alarm.
• Simultaneously, his existing account balance of ₹55,000 was placed on hold, increasing his distress.
• Khan shared the message with his employer and approached the local cyber police station to report the anomaly.

Official Investigation and Resolution

• Assistant Sub-Inspector Dindayal of the Sikar cyber police verified the report and contacted the bank.
• The investigation confirmed that the ₹1 lakh crore figure was never actualized; no such amount was deposited or blocked in Khan's account.
• The bank acknowledged a technical glitch in its message-generation system as the root cause.
• Following the bank's confirmation, the hold on the ₹55,000 balance was released, and Khan's account returned to its normal state.

Practical Implications

• Erroneous SMS alerts, though uncommon, can cause unnecessary panic and temporary financial holds.
• Customers are advised to verify account balances through official banking apps, websites, or ATMs rather than acting on suspicious messages alone.
• Promptly contacting the bank’s customer care or visiting a branch can resolve such discrepancies swiftly.
• Reporting such incidents to cyber police or the bank’s grievance cell helps in tracking and rectifying system errors.

How to Verify the Original Announcement

• Check the current balance via the bank’s official mobile application or internet banking portal.
• Visit a nearby ATM or use the bank’s missed-call balance inquiry service.
• If the message appears dubious, refrain from making large transactions or transferring funds until the account status is confirmed.
• For persistent concerns, lodge a formal complaint through the bank’s internal redressal mechanism or approach the RBI Ombudsman scheme.