Elderly Bengaluru Man Defrauded of ₹61,000 After Phone Stolen on City Bus

A 78‑year‑old man lost ₹61,000 after his mobile phone was stolen on a BMTC bus in Electronic City on Oct 27.

What Happened

M. Ramappa, a resident of G.K. Layout, Parappana Agrahara, left home at about 9.15 a.m. to take his granddaughter, who was ill, to Indira Gandhi Hospital in Siddapura. He boarded a BMTC bus bound for Majestic at the Hosa Road stop around 9.30 a.m. and kept his phone in the upper pocket of his shirt. Within minutes he noticed the phone missing and asked fellow passengers, but could not locate it. He continued to the hospital, left his granddaughter with his daughter Malashree, and reported the loss.

Reaction

Malashree had earlier transferred money to her father’s account for her own daughter’s school fees. She told him to check the account because the phone had no password. At his Naganathapura bank branch Ramappa saw two unauthorised UPI withdrawals – ₹50,000 followed by ₹11,000 – both recorded on the same day. He informed his daughter, who called the cyber‑crime helpline 1930 and advised filing a police report. Ramappa then lodged a complaint with the Electronic City police, requesting action against the thieves and the fraudulent transfers.

Context

Mobile theft on public transport often leads to quick misuse of UPI apps, especially when phones lack lock screens. Reporting to cyber‑crime helplines and police is the standard response to curb such fraud.