Archive · 13 Sep 2026
Lost Phone Lets Fraudster Drain Elderly Labourer’s Savings in Indore
Madanlal Chauhan is a 73-year-old labourer from Dharampuri.
He lost his mobile phone at a weekly market.
Someone allegedly used the lost phone and its SIM card to set up a PhonePe account.
The person then took Rs 3,34,270 from Chauhan’s bank account.
The money was transferred over five days.
Chauhan learned about the missing money when he went to his bank.
He reported the incident through the national cybercrime reporting website.
Police are investigating the transactions and looking for the person responsible.
A 73-year-old labourer, Madanlal Chauhan, lost his phone at Dharampuri weekly market on March 16, 2025.
An unidentified person allegedly used the phone and linked SIM to activate a PhonePe account.
Unauthorised transactions totaling Rs 3,34,270 were made from Chauhan’s linked bank account between March 16 and March 21.
Chauhan discovered the withdrawals when he visited his bank to take out money.
Sanwer police registered a case under Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 66D of the Information Technology Act.
- Who
- A 73-year-old labourer, Madanlal Chauhan, and an unidentified suspected fraudster.
- What
- Rs 3,34,270 was allegedly transferred from Chauhan’s bank account using a PhonePe account activated on his lost phone.
- When
- The phone was lost on March 16, 2025, and unauthorised transactions occurred between March 16 and March 21, 2025.
- Where
- The phone was lost at the Dharampuri weekly market, and the case falls under Sanwer police station’s jurisdiction in Indore.
- Why
- The suspect allegedly used Chauhan’s lost phone and linked SIM card to access or connect his bank account for fraudulent UPI transfers.
- Victim
- Madanlal Chauhan, 73, a labourer
- Amount lost
- Rs 3,34,270
- Phone lost
- March 16, 2025, at Dharampuri weekly market
- Fraud period
- March 16 to March 21, 2025
- Payment app
- PhonePe
- Police station
- Sanwer police station
- Legal provisions
- Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 66D of the Information Technology Act