Fake Bank Opened in Kanpur Uttar Pradesh, Over 70 Women Lost their Money

In a shocking case from Kanpur, four friends set up a fake bank and cheated more than 70 women by promising easy Mudra loans ranging from ₹20,000 to ₹50,000. The victims lost a total of ₹2.83 lakh, and none of them received the promised loans. After several complaints, police have arrested all four accused.

The victims were mostly women from rural areas who dreamed of improving their lives through small loans. Sumitra, a resident of Hridaypur village, wanted to take a ₹50,000 loan to help her 19-year-old daughter Muskan become a teacher. Her husband works as a labourer. Similarly, women named Lakshmi, Rani, Bijma, and Pooja also fell into the same trap. Rani, wanted to buy a buffalo to start a milk business and fund her children’s education. However, her money too was taken by the fraudsters.

How the Fake Bank Operated

The gang opened a fake bank in Shivrajpur, Kanpur Nagar, under the name Shilpa Fincap Private Limited. To make it look real, they created fake roles like Branch Manager, Assistant Manager, Loan Officer, and Field Officer for themselves. They claimed to offer low-interest loans (8.5% per year) with approval and disbursal within 24 hours. The setup looked professional — complete with banners, forms, and even a fake Mumbai office address and contact number. The fraudsters told women that to get the loan, they first needed to pay ₹3,000 to ₹4,000 as insurance and processing fees.

To gain trust, the accused visited homes and encouraged women to form groups of five members each. They said that once the group was formed, ₹50,000 would be credited to each member’s account within 24 hours. Rani shared, “We all gave ₹3,000 each. I was sure I’d get the loan soon. But after a few days, the office was shut, and their phones were switched off.” Ankit Kumar, son of one of the victims, said his mother Lakshmi was promised a ₹50,000 loan. “She paid ₹3,000 for insurance, but no loan was credited. When we went to the bank, it was locked, and all signs were removed,” he said.

The People Behind the Scam

The main accused, Shailesh Gautam alias Rohit, is a B.Ed graduate who planned the scam after failing to find a job. He brought in his friends Jitendra Gautam alias Rakesh, Pradeep Gautam alias Santosh, and Uttam Verma alias Sandeep to join him. They rented a house in Shivrajpur for ₹7,000 per month and set up the fake bank there. They even designed fake identity cards and loan application forms to appear legitimate.

Police Investigation and Arrests

When the women did not receive any loans, they realized something was wrong. On October 13, several victims filed complaints with Police Commissioner Raghuveer Lal. FIRs were registered at Shivrajpur, Chaubepur, and Bilhaur police stations. A police team led by DCP West Dinesh Chandra Tripathi visited the location on October 16. The fake setup looked just like a real bank branch, complete with furniture and counters. Police confirmed that 71 women had been cheated of ₹2.83 lakh. All four accused were arrested and are now in custody.

Broken Dreams and a Warning

This fake bank scam shattered the dreams of many women who hoped to start small businesses or educate their children. Police have urged citizens to verify loan offers and bank credentials before making any payments. Authorities also warned people not to trust individuals promising easy loans or fast approvals without proper documentation.