Fraudsters use customer's mobile phone to hack Himachal co-op bank server, steal Rs 11 crore

The transactions were done on May 11-12 but, due to May 13 being a holiday, the matter came to light on May 14 after the bank authorities received the Reserve Bank of India transaction report.

Shimla: Fraudsters allegedly used a customer's mobile phone to hack the Himachal Pradesh State Co-operative Bank server and withdraw Rs 11.55 crore, officials said on Saturday.

The money was transferred to 20 accounts.

The transactions were done on May 11-12 but, due to May 13 being a holiday, the matter came to light on May 14 after the bank authorities received the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) transaction report.

A complaint was immediately filed at Shimla Sadar police station, bank officials said.

The fraudsters allegedly hacked the server through a mobile phone application of a customer, who holds an account at the bank's Hatli branch in Chamba district.

The case has been transferred to the police's cybercrime branch.

Deputy Inspector General of Police (Cyber Crime) Mohit Chawla said investigations were underway and a team from CERT-In -- the nodal agency for responding to cyber security cases -- would reach Shimla on Saturday and join the probe.

Experts are trying to ascertain how the bank's security was breached.

The bank authorities claimed the customers' money was safe and all funds transactions had been put on hold.