Fake SBI branch in Chhattisgarh dupes villagers and unemployed of lakhs
PTC News Desk: In one of the most audacious banking frauds seen in recent years, a group of scammers set up a fake branch of the State Bank of India (SBI) in the village of Chhapora, Sakti district, Chhattisgarh. The elaborate scheme, which ran for just 10 days, tricked local villagers and unemployed individuals into believing they were either securing legitimate jobs or conducting real banking transactions.
The fraudsters meticulously replicated the appearance of a genuine SBI branch, complete with furniture, official-looking paperwork, and functioning bank counters, before it was exposed by authorities.
The fake branch was located around 250 kilometers from the state capital, Raipur, in a quiet village where six unsuspecting individuals were recruited for what they thought were official jobs at India’s largest bank, SBI.
The branch was designed to appear authentic, featuring new furniture, proper signage, and staff trained to perform regular banking tasks. Villagers began flocking to the new branch, hoping to open accounts and access banking services, while the newly hired employees were thrilled to have landed jobs at a prestigious institution.
However, things took a turn when the manager of a nearby legitimate SBI branch in Dabra grew suspicious of this sudden "new branch" and raised the alarm. On September 27, top police officials, along with SBI representatives, arrived for an investigation, ultimately exposing the fraudulent operation.
According to senior police official Rajesh Patel, the branch was entirely fake, and the documents used to appoint the employees were counterfeit. "The manager of the Dabra branch informed us of his suspicion regarding a fake bank operating in Chhapora. Upon investigation, it was confirmed that the bank was fake, and several employees had been appointed with counterfeit documents," Patel said.
So far, four suspects have been identified as part of the scam, including Rekha Sahu, Mandir Das, and Pankaj, who posed as the branch manager.
The fraudsters targeted unemployed individuals from districts like Korba, Balod, Kabirdham, and Sakti, offering them seemingly legitimate jobs at the "SBI branch" for exorbitant fees. The jobs came with official-looking offer letters for positions such as managers, marketing officers, cashiers, and computer operators.
Many of these individuals paid between Rs 2 lakh and Rs 6 lakh to secure these positions, believing they had landed government jobs with the promise of stable salaries ranging from Rs 30,000 to Rs 35,000.
The recruits were even given training to further convince them of the legitimacy of their new jobs. Jyoti Yadav, one of the victims, recalled, "I submitted my documents, completed the biometrics, and they told me my joining had been confirmed. I was promised a salary of Rs 30,000." Another victim, Sangeeta Kanwar, shared, "I was asked for 5 lakh rupees, but I told them I couldn't pay that much. We eventually settled for 2.5 lakh rupees."
Local villager Ajay Kumar Agarwal first grew suspicious when he noticed the sudden appearance of the "SBI branch" without any prior announcement. Having applied for an SBI kiosk in Chhapora, Ajay was aware that the nearest legitimate SBI branch was in Dabra.
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His concerns deepened when the staff at the fake branch failed to provide satisfactory answers, and there was no branch code listed on the signage. Ajay reported his suspicions to the Dabra branch manager, which led to the police investigation and the eventual unmasking of the scam.
The fake SBI branch operated out of a rented building owned by a local resident, Tosh Chandra, who had leased the space for Rs 7,000 per month. The fraudsters spared no effort in creating an authentic-looking setup, going so far as to arrange proper furniture, signage, and bank counters to convince unsuspecting villagers and job-seekers of the branch’s legitimacy.
Many villagers were excited about the prospect of banking services in their locality. "Many people were considering taking loans once the bank became fully operational," said Yogesh Sahu, a local shop owner. Ram Kumar Chandra, another villager, remarked, "If the fake bank had continued, many people would have deposited money and could have been cheated out of crores."
The victims of this scam now face not only the financial loss of the money they paid for their fake jobs but also potential legal troubles. Many of them had mortgaged jewelry or taken out loans to pay the hefty fees, only to discover they had been duped. With their dreams of stable employment shattered, they are left grappling with the emotional and financial fallout.
The police continue to investigate the scam, and efforts are underway to track down all individuals involved. This case serves as a stark reminder of the risks posed by increasingly sophisticated fraud schemes targeting vulnerable and unsuspecting individuals.
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- With inputs from agencies
