Actor Shantanu Maheshwari Falls Victim to Bank Frau, still Unresolved

In a startling turn of events, actor and dancer Shantanu Maheshwari found himself ensnared in a bank fraud, enduring a harrowing experience between January 19th and 29th. The incident unfolded as unauthorized transactions took place, leaving Maheshwari deeply concerned and frustrated in his quest to rectify the situation.

Recounting the ordeal, Maheshwari revealed, “My email ID and phone number, already linked to your bank account, were changed. With the altered number and ID, an individual purchased a different virtual My Zone card through my credit card, and I received no intimation. The card was generated without my knowledge, no OTP, and nothing. That’s what’s so scary, not just for me, but for anyone. How can your number and mail ID be shared with anyone? And how can they be changed, allowing a credit card to be applied without your knowledge?”

The actor-dancer only became aware of the fraudulent activity when attempting to settle a restaurant bill. “It said ‘insufficient balance’ in my credit card. I knew that I hadn’t spent anything, so I checked and saw that the limit of five lakhs was maxed out. When I realized that someone else is using it, I told my bank that this has happened without my authorization,” he explained.

Despite reaching out to his bank for resolution, Maheshwari faced challenges. “I had a fight with the bank because they have been calling me to pay the bill as it’s a two-way authentication, and there’s no way I was not aware of it. I told them that I haven’t given any authentication, and that’s a problem from your end. They still haven’t changed the wrong number and mail ID,” the 32-year-old actor lamented.

As a public figure, Maheshwari recognizes the responsibility to shed light on such incidents. “It’s important to stand up and say these things out loud. If something of this sort is happening to others as well, it is a huge problem. I can’t even imagine what others might be going through. I have blocked all my cards now and don’t think I will be using any card for a while,” he emphasized.

In raising his voice on the matter, Shantanu Maheshwari aims to draw attention to the challenges individuals face in navigating such financial frauds, emphasizing the importance of awareness and vigilance in the digital age.