From Victim to Victor: My Ordeal with Cyber Fraud and the Road to Recovery

 I'm writing today to share a personal experience that left me shaken but ultimately empowered.  As a Public Sector Bank Manager, I prided myself on financial literacy. However, my heart and soul were burnt to ashes on June 20th when I fell prey to a high-tech cyber fraud.

The Slippery Slope:

It all started at 11 AM with a call, claiming to be from Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). They said that a SIM card under my Aadhaar had been created for nefarious activities. Despite my denial for the same, they somehow convinced me. They asked me to "raise" this issue with Mumbai Police and patched my call through the said 'Mumbai Police' from Colaba.

I was being led deeper into a trap, but I had no hint of that then. The call was answered by a 'so-called' IPS officer, his voice filled with urgency. He convinced me to install Skype for further enquiries and made me write few statements to get freed from this trap.

The Descent into Fear:

I was locked in my room while my family living their daily routine outside unaware of the trauma, I was in. I received several accusations and threats. Fearful, I lost my sense of sane. They asked for personal information, including Aadhar details. They even told me that I was a prime suspect in a money laundering case involving Naresh Goyal. In a state of mental manipulation, I did as they asked. Not doubting on their ill-intentions, I kept following their instructions.  They drilled me about my finances – bankbalances, income, expenses. After 5 hours, they asked me to transfer my bank funds to a "secret surveillance account" on the promise that the RBI would monitor my accounts for fraudulent transactions. Believing their lies, I broke my Fixed Deposits, transferring a significant sum – a whopping ₹17 lacs. It wasn't until my family intervened, breaking the spell, that I realised I had been victimised. Moreover, the defraudershad almost convinced me to transfer an additional Rs 3 lakhs, but fortunately, I got senses back and did not make this mistake. 

The Aftermath and the Fight:

As the call ended, I began to feel humiliated and stupid. However, thanks to my extremely loving family I didn’t feelbeing a victim. I then lodged an FIR in the cybercrime helpline (1930) on the same day. The cyber trail led to a branch of IndusInd Bank where, within 15 minutes, the cash was transferred into three accounts — Yes Bank for Rs10 lakh: AU Finance Bank for Rs. 3.00 lakh and Cosmos Cooperative Bank for Rs. 4.00 Lakh. And from here, the money was withdrawn across three different places in Indore, Nagaur, and Ahmedabad, painted a grim picture and almost nil chances for recovery.  The emotional toll was immense.  Constant worry, and the concerning anxiety of losing everything – these were my mates.

The Long Road Back:

The odds of recovering cash withdrawals seemed bleak. However, due to the support of my family, friends, colleagues and the exceptional Rajasthan Police and Indore Police, I wouldn't give up.  My friends, rallied behind me. They offered not just emotional support, but also practical help. They researched recovery options, connected me with resources, and helped me stay focused through the nightmare.

The Power of Knowledge and Connecting the Dots:

I had a weapon in this war — my knowledge of the financial system from working as a banker. Using the financial data, I carefullyfollowed a paper trail from one account to another in order to complete the puzzle. There were moments of frustration, dead ends that seemed to lead nowhere. But slowly, a pattern emerged.

Using my banking experience, I was able to connect the dots. The seemingly random accounts led to specific locations – the end users who had withdrawn the stolen money in cash. This was a crucial breakthrough.

A Collaborative Effort:

Armed with this information, we informed the police. Their swift action was instrumental in capturing the culprits. Commissioner Shri, Bishu Joseph Sir, DIG Kunwar Rastradeep Sir, SHO SharvanKumar Sir, Mr. Pradeep, and Mr. Sandeep displayed remarkable dedication. Furthermore, a special thanks goes to DIG Amit SinghSir of Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Although the case wasn't in his jurisdiction, he went above and beyond, apprehending the culprits and ensuring the return of my stolen money. Nevertheless, I would also mention two persons, who stood by me in this need. They are my friends Namarta Choudhary and Rajesh.  Without their support, it would not have been possible for me to accomplish my recovery task.

A Message of Hope:

My journey through cyber fraud recovery was exhausting, fueled by a vigorous combination of personal resilience, unwavering support, and the expertise of the police department. Though people made perceptions about me as per their limited knowledge and experiences, but I didn’t lose hope. This experience has instilled in me a renewed sense of purpose – to educate others and empower them to protect themselves from these sophisticated scams.

Remember, even when faced with apparently impossible odds, there is always hope. With the right support system and a never-give-up attitude, you too can overcome the challenges of cybercrime. Let us unite against cybercrimes and support each other in the fight. Have faith in our country's system, and never lose hope. Share your story, raise awareness, and let's outsmart cyber fraudsters together. We will not be silenced. We will not be defeated. 

In the end, it was a victory not just for me, but for all those who have suffered at the hands of cyber fraudsters. 

Lessons Learned:

This ordeal was a frightening reminder of how sophisticated cybercriminals can be. Here's what I learned:

• Never share personal information over the phone.

• Verify the caller's identity before taking any action.

• Report suspicious activity immediately.

• Stay vigilant and educate others.

 

HAPPY 2021- LETS UNFOLD THE MIRACLES

Okay so all set for New Year!!!

And New beginnings !!!!

In a while calls and messages will bombard our cellphones like previous years and we will give ourselves one more chance to wish or pray for new things.

2020 too started with the same excitement and zeal and none of us had even an iota of doubt that this year would be the worst one for us in a decadal time frame.

2020 will soon become an old chapter in our history books but on a slightly different note.

Years passed by but none of us were ever forced to recall a time which 2020 will make us remind in times to come.

Pandemic, lockdown, online classes were few new words which we all learnt in 2020 and from a small kid to an old age person all sailed in the same boat.

Well for all good and bad things, this year has finally come to an end. We have endured enough and now it’s time to await for happiness and pleasure. 

2020 has taught us some great lessons and least we learnt is that it’s waste to expect much. We have no idea how brutally will our plans ruin and how apathetically will our dreams Shatter.

But as they say even a bad thing can teach you something and 2020 is no exception. 

So many new things happened this year which we probably wouldn’t have learnt in our 20/30 years of life.

Our toddlers are growing with mask on their face. They understand that this is another necessitated cloth on their body which is needed before they go out of the house. Our generation has learnt to enjoy at home with our families. 

This human race has definitely learnt something

And with all those learnt lessons, we are now embarking into  2021.

2021 is special in two senses-

One it’s most awaited year as with this new year we are hoping to get rid of pain and sufferings of 2020

And second it’s a start of a new decade which promises to fulfill some promises specially kept assigned for coming decade to take care of.

I don’t know if expecting 2021 to be a blissful year just because we have suffered enough will be right thing to do but then we don’t have any other choice.

I just hope pray and wish this year to be different from 2020 in a good sense and Believe it to bring a new beginning in our lives.

We have shed enough tears and now it’s time to be bright with a milkyway light.

So let’s end this decade on a good note by reminding of all the good times of passing year and welcome a new year and new decade with more power and energy and positivity.!!!!

She Who is she A mother or a sister Or a daughter?

She can be you, I or anyone else for that matter,

But,

The true essence of being her is intact in every manner.

 All her life is spent in playing different roles,

But how come does  she rock and roll them all.

 Is she a magic or a fairy of dreamland stepped down to the Earth?

Or is she herself a Durga or Kali for the world to work..

 Who is she, I am unable to comprehend,

Because the misery of her asks me questions thousand.

 

Despite her essence to run the world,

Why is she proclaimed to be a puppet for the men to have fun.

 If she is meant to be worshipped before man,

Then why does she have to endure all the pain.

 Sacrifice, suffering, tolerance or duty and care,

why is her life confined to this scary nightmare.

 From eve teasing, honor killing, rape to sexual violence,

Why is she supposed to suppress her trauma with silence.

 Fearing stigma and suppressing memories

is what she expected to feat,

Because the deaf and oppressive patriarchal society is ready to snitch her beam.

 

If being a "SHE" comes with these disrespectful freebies

Then how can she be a goddess instead she prefers lying like mummies..

 

 

 

WHAT DO WE WANT—A CAGED LIFE OF LOCKDOWN OR A LIFE OF REAL HAPPINESS- THE WAR IN MIND CONTINUES……

It’s been ages when I last took my laptop in my lap and wrote down every bit of thoughts running inside. Today also, I didn’t intend to write anything but my cataleptic mind and more than that my unconscious fingers are themselves taking the cues and running on this keypad like never before.

This is not just my story this time. For the first time in my life I am feeling like I am living the parallel life of  what my neighborhood kid is going trough or what the celebrities whose lives always gave me a  fairly good amount of fantasy are up to. There is no difference at all.

Mornings are no unlike and are following a similar pattern each day with no exception. From eldest member of the family to a little 1 year kid, everyone is sailing in the same boat. Their morning starts late these days. Breakfast, lunch and dinner, a mid day sleep and then comes night with a little to- do list. People absolutely have no idea, what are they doing. In my decadal life of consciousness about the universe never ever I have seen something like this before. Even the families with rigid discipline culture have become standstill. Eat, sleep and repeat is new normal. And surprisingly no one in this vast universe is doing anything different.

Yes this is the story of this LOCKDOWN. This is not something our government has imposed on us. This is what we have created for ourselves. This is what we ourselves have nurtured for years and finally when it is giving its fruits, why do they taste sour to us now?

The earth is still rotating on its axis. The moon is still in its orbit to service its planet. The rain pattern is as usual. The crops are still on time. Then what has changed? If the universe is at its place and all the components making up this world are on their duties like they have always been on even before the inception of the life then what has been altered? Why are we feeling like everything has changed?

Yes one thing that has changed is the way the world was operating a month back. All the big and small nations all have come to a halt. There is no race of becoming super power and showing the supremacy of one over other. From the richest billionaire to the poorest of poor all have been trapped in an unusual cage. People are restricted to their houses like that despondent bird that has been caged albeit it’s their personal choice.  They are trying hard to get out of these self created prison bars but surprisingly there are no bars at all. They are free as before yet they feel suffocated. The nature is singing its own verse and people have failed to understand those lyrics and for the first time the music seems unpleasant to their ears.

But my question is- Isn’t it what we always wanted? We always craved for the calm and composed holidays where we could actually detach ourselves from the clutches of work, relations and more importantly from our own thoughts. And now it is here. We all have ample of time. No one to disturb us. No one to even ask to get ready and go for work. But alas! We are not liking it.

 No surprise … We humans have been designed only this way. We don’t like the things that come to us with so much ease.  Though we like freebies but do we really like freebies?

This question stroked in me a different type of curiosity. What does this human race actually want? The story of eve and Manu through which we have been trying to justify our foundation on this earth since ages has put before me a question. Nature created us or we created this nature?

I have always been told and I am sure each one of us has been given same life lessons that “THERE IS NOONE ABOVE GOD. But the problem with this human race is that we don’t easily believe until and unless we encounter the things ourselves.

We all have been living in this utterly crafted misconception that we are above everything. With successful attempts of encroaching the Mars, Moon, Jupiter and now with the anticipated steps leading even to Sun, we are contemplating a whole new world which will operate on our directions. With the most advanced technological gadgets in our hands and robots dancing on our terms, we have made ourselves the heroes of the story.

But are we the real Heroes?

Well, I leave this to you all. Think, Think and Think!!!! I am sure someone among us definitely has an answer to this question. I want to know- What do we really want. What kind of life, we dream for ourselves? A life full of sci-fi technologies where just pressing a button would fulfill all your wishes like a genie of the bottle or chirag of Alladin did in our childhood stories or we want a life full of real happiness and pleasure that lies in the synchronization of this nature and its elements.

Think…..

From mistakes to life to Happiness,

From mistakes to life to Happiness,

I learned to walk on the paths rough and hard.

Fragile, groped and shivered at the start

I learned to pass a tremble with a scare.

Recreating myself to beam again with light,

I crossed a sea of thoughts which I once did hide.

Accommodating the good, forgetting the worse,

I learned to appreciate the blessing which was once considered curse.

Transforming from nothing to something to everything

I m beckoning back at the world without any agony and crying

Because everything adds and will add and it is worth to add

From mistake to life to Happiness!!!!!

When Heart Aches and Mind Wanders!!!

Amidst the chaos that life created for me

Backing up with the dillema I Am in

For, the miseries and memories of life,

Please stop chasing me..

The peace I wanted, 

The life I dreamt

For, the pain and sufferings

Please stop suffocating me.

The road I travelled

The destination I reached

For, the lessons and learnings

Please start encouraging me 

The past I survived

The future I nurtured

For, the new journeys and stories

Please start accommodating me..

The story I wanted

The verses I wished

For, the poetrys and Rhymes

Please start breathing into me..

If she was a Daughter, You Would have Given her JUSTICE

I DONT KNOW HOW I CAME TO WRITE THIS PARAGRAPH,

But after watching that video, it just went on.

And even after many efforts on Government’s part and putting the ban, the BBC made documentary has been released. What will be the consequences of this stride, time has all those answers but this movie has surely left many questions before us

Was banning the movie really a solution- And with the display of the truth, the war in government corridors is about to instigate, though it has become much arguable debate already. But i ask- is this needed? Why didn’t government want this movie to be released in India? Were they feared about the standing of our country in international streets or were they concerned about the ill-thought procedure of our country men, which the world has come to know. Were they afraid about the unsafe places of India that would hamper its tourism business or were they enraged about some another political issue, which would dent their political matters.

I don’t understand but yes I do have my views like any other common girl of this age would have been thought-  this is not something you should ban, in fact it should compulsorily be showcased to every school, college, offices and everywhere so the people of this country come to know, what India is all about. What is value of woman here? What is the worth of those tears of a mother who saw her young daughter dying in front of her eyes?  

They call it “India’s Daughter? Are we really the daughter of this vast country? If we are than does a mother treat her daughters like this? A big question mark and perhaps nobody is able to answer.

When will the victim get justice- As I mentioned earlier, Government is only concerned about how did some alien person come to India’s prison and interviewed the accused? Do we really need to find out an answer for this? Will anyone answer? What will this ban actually mean? It will stop prospective rapes? Will this save every daughter of this country? if you have answer in affirmative, go and ban the documentary. But sadly, there is nothing like this. 

Everything is clear before that goddess of justice. Every face has been recognised. The crime has been admitted than why you are DELAYING the procedure. What is the need of pushing the case in different courts, what is the need of appeal and appeal all over again? is it not the duty of Supreme court to announce its final deicison as soon as possible or will it wait for some other defecnce on the accused parts even after knowing that he is an Accused?

How much more delay you are going to make? Or will the victim never get the needed justice?

Should Such LAWYERS be allowed to Practice further- it is true it’s the duty of the lawyer to defend his client? Ok fine but does your advocacy mean to save an accused who has brutally killed a young girl? He said don’t allow your daughters to go outside with someone unknown? Mr. Advocate- are you really a man? Sir, a real man is not one who disallows girl to go out at 9 PM, the real man is one who can stop the ill happening before his eyes.

Should the Accused need not have any Regret- This is what the man-oriented society all about. Even after committing a monstrous crime, you are blaming a girl who did not even know what had happened with her? You wanted to teach a lesson.

Oh wow, what kind of lesson you man wants to teach us? We should not go outside; we should not wear clothes of our choice or anything else? If we are chilling outside, we deserve to be raped? Or something worse than this

This is the extreme limit and then the SC is waiting for another defence on accused part? Does not he need a hang up now? Stop blaming the girl, stop blaming their parenting and stop blaming the thought they carry. They are really far better than yours.

To sum up.

 Dear Government-

it is enough now. Are we going to see that juvenile accused wandering in the streets after few years? Yes you have a juvenile justice act but is not he a victim?. He did a heinous crime than why can he not be punished just because he is lacking 1/2 years in attaining his majority. Are you sure he will not trail other victim after his release?

The world has known the ugliness concealed behind the beautiful veil of this great India. They have openly claimed Delhi as RAPE Capital of the globe.

Are you still waiting for some more comments from International corridors? or is it enough for you to take needed actions now? So to all the respected rulers of my country- please know the fact that you need to see the things getting worse around you. The kind of embarrassment you fear about is not because of global unveiling of your country’s reality but it is inside in your nation. You need to tackle with your own dreadful veracity.

And lastly -  To all such ill-minded people. Stop discriminate a girl and a boy. She also has the same mind, same heart and same feeling as you have. Stop crushing her dream

And LET HER SURVIVE

LET HER LIVE!!!!!!

- Tanwi

Perhaps Another Daughter

Perhaps Unreal turns out to be Real!

It was a unreal life,

A unreal me and a unreal dream,

Roving through those unreal tunnels,

With hope of getting the real soon!!

But

It was nothing but a unreal fantasy,

The unreal characters, the unreal story!!

This feels me so many whiles,

But the real I was never wished to come to light!!

I wandered millions of instants

Thinking its real; rest is mere piece of mucks!!

I trust my soul and followed the trance,

But how could illusions lead me to the right path?

I thought again and again,

To get the answer that was still unseen!!

Is dis what i want to draw my life alike,

Or do i need a real picture throughout the life.

On my way of thinking, night turns in to light,

And an answer is awaiting me to realize.

So here i come out the veil

The real me with no reel!

No more unreality, no more delusion

This is the time to take the real roam!!!

A Battle between Heart and mind—No, perhaps fight between mind vs mind

So after a long break, thoughts caught me again and as always i am not ready how to make a beautiful wreath out of them. Let’s see how i do it.

It’s a beautiful night; in fact i must say nights are always beautiful, peace all around, innocent sleeping faces, lights off and a lovely calmness. Stars are also there but in a packed home, sorry you are not going to enjoy watching them, so here i have to adjust with ceilings and walls. :-P

I want to inscribe everything running inside me but still something is going mistaken. A lot of things perhaps bothering me to come outside and i have to make choice which one should get place.

Well ok I am done. Why should not i write about this dilemma of human heart and mind?

Actually these two are the worst weapons and also greatest hoarder many times. Firstly a war between both of them never stops; secondly you never know which one to follow. 

Seriously I never apprehend the notion why Heart behaves so babyishly or fervently. Perhaps god has put extra sensitive hormones in it. Or is it mind which is more sensible?

So, the confusion is who will decide either i am thinking with my mind or with my heart? :-P

Believe me this is question which is torturing me since the time i started intuiting the things.

They say follow your heart, i say where it is?

I am not clear yet which is mind's solution and which one is of heart.

A very torturing war i must say.

If thinking is task of brain; how can heart do this function? Is not blood pumping its task?  And if heart thinks then what brain's function is all about?
My whole study of biology gets question mark here and i am left with no answer in fact.

Isn't it, its only mind that thinks?
In my opinion there are two parts of mind ( I am not talking about biological classification)
and both of them ponder differently like two perception of a thing i.e. right or wrong.

One part of mind thinks sensitively and other practically. When the sensible part outshines, we calls it thinking from heart.
So is it sufficient to satisfy me?
No, not yet
perhaps I have not yet discovered any supposition and these wandering thoughts will be shattered as such.

What i believe is,
at every decision you have to use your practical mind because sensible part can’t access itself separately, that has to take support in order to give itself a meaning.
So, it’s the practicality which is going to carry the day.

For example-
i think i should do something, I desperately want to execute whatever is running in my mind but i don’t do that. Why? Because, my mind forbade me to do so and finally practical mind takes the lead.

For 2nd example-
if i say i should do it or not?
M I asking my heart (that is sensitive part of mind) to tell me?
Or m I asking my mind to analyze should i do it?

 Then

I follow only the answer given by mind i.e. second part

So, all I want to connote is you are ultimately going to follow your mind, because being a matured human, your senses ask you to analyze the thing.

And at that juncture the question of heart itself gets missing.

Fine, maybe it went quite confusing, and this war is never ever going to solve.
So with no hope to solving the puzzle
i shut up my mind and its thoughts and think something else.

Waiting to get the answer from someone somewhere…..

Have a nice day J

ज़िन्दगी..........

भोर के सूरज से शुरू होती ये कहानी, 
रात के अँधेरे में गुम हो जाती है,
दिन प्रतिदिन ये क्रम चलता  एक दिन ज़िन्दगी ही अस्त  हो जाती है!

एक आशा , एक उम्मीद जन्म  लेती रोज,
कुछ पूरी हो पाती, कुछ दम तोड़ती, कुछ दबा दी जाती है,
ना जाने कितने उत्साह , उमंग और उदासी के बीच , ये ज़िन्दगी जी जाती है!

कोई रोता कोई हस्ता ,
किसी के  होंठो कि मुस्कान झूठी है,
हर कोई भाग रहा  रंग बदलती इस ज़िन्दगी में, 
फिर भी सबकी दौड़ अधूरी है!!

जीवन चाह रहा हर कोई यहाँ, 
पर जीना किसी को आता नही,
हर पल मर रहे लोग  यहाँ, 
पर मौत को कोई पाता नही.!

कल की  कल्पना में उड़ान भरता हर कोई , 
पर बीते कल से कोई निकलता नही,
भविष्य क सपने ऐसे बुने कि 
आज को कोई याद करता नही!!

कोई पूछे मुझसे क्या मतलब इस नैया का जो अंततः डूब जानी  हैं,
क्यों कैसे जीए इस ज़िन्दगी को ,जो खुद ख़त्म हो जानी है!

उत्तर बेशक नही मेरे  पास देने को कि क्यों  ये कहानी  वही पुरानी है?

बस दिल में एक अहसास और आँखों में विशवास है,

माना कि नही मुझे तुझ पर कोई एतबार है, 

पर

कैसी भी हो ज़िंदगी मुझे तुझे से प्यार है!!

तू चाहए रास्ते  को मोड़े, या होंसलो  को तोड़े.

या तू चाहए लुटाना मुझ पर दुःख बार- बार है,

पर

कैसी भी हो ज़िंदगी मुझे तुझे से प्यार है!!!!!!!