Online swindlers target customers of merged banks

News Network

November 8, 2020

Bengaluru, Nov 8: Online fraudsters stole money from the customer of a merged nationalised bank, saying the bank is issuing a new checkbook, passbook, and debit card.

In her complaint to the West CEN crime police station, M Devika, 52, from Vijayanagar, an accountant in a private firm, has stated that she held an account with Vijaya Bank that merged with Bank of Baroda.

On October 27, Devika received a call from an unknown individual identifying himself as the bank’s employee. The man said the bank was issuing a new checkbook, passbook and debit card following the banks’ merger.

“The fraudster asked me to share the One-Time Password (OTP) so that he can raise a request for the items. When I asked why I should share the OTP, he said it’s their procedure,” Devika said.

The moment she shared the OTP, she received a message saying money has been debited from her account. “The caller said they’re transferring the money from Vijaya Bank to Bank of Baroda. I believed him and shared several OTPs that day and lost Rs 95,545 in multiple transactions,” she said.

When the fraudster asked her to share the OTP one more time, she refused and said she would visit the bank or complain to the RBI. The fraudster kept calling her till October 29. “I checked with the bank and they told me it was a fraud call,” she said. Devika alleged that police made her run around and took three days to register the FIR.

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From Dubai boom to Bengaluru backlash: Inside CJ Roy’s journey

News Network

January 31,2026

Bengaluru: The shooting incident involving CJ Roy, founder of the Confident Group, has once again put the spotlight on a businessman whose life has swung between flamboyant global success and persistent controversy at home.

Though Roy’s business interests extended across continents, his roots lay firmly in Karnataka. An alumnus of Christ School in Bengaluru, he later moved to Tumakuru to pursue an engineering degree. Those familiar with his early years describe him as intensely ambitious, beginning his career as a salesman at a small electronics firm dealing in computers.

Roy’s entry into large-scale real estate came through the Crystal Group, where he worked closely with Latha Namboothiri and rose from manager to director. However, the launch of the Confident Group in 2005 was clouded by industry speculation. Insiders speak of a fallout involving alleged “benami” properties and claims of deception that ultimately led to his independent venture—an episode Roy spent years trying to distance himself from, according to associates.

A tale of two cities

Roy’s professional trajectory diverged sharply across geographies.

In Dubai, he built a reputation as a bold and efficient developer, completing massive luxury residential projects in record time—some reportedly within 11 months. His rapid project delivery and lavish lifestyle in the Emirates earned him admiration and visibility in the real estate sector.

In Bengaluru, however, his image remained far more fractured. Sources say Roy stayed away from the city for several years amid disputes over unpaid dues to vendors and suppliers. Several projects were allegedly stalled, with accusations of unfulfilled commitments to cement and steel suppliers continuing to follow him.

Roy’s return to Bengaluru’s business and social circles began around 2018, marked by a conscious attempt at rebranding. His appointment as Honorary Consul of the Slovak Republic added diplomatic legitimacy, which he complemented with visible CSR initiatives, including ambulance donations and high-profile charity events.

Heavy police presence in Langford Town

Following the incident, police personnel from the Central division were deployed outside the Confident Group building in Langford Town, which also houses the Slovak Honorary Consulate in Bengaluru.

The otherwise busy premises near Hosur Road wore a deserted look on Friday, reflecting the shock and uncertainty that followed the tragedy.

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