Bhubaneswar: Amidst the lockdown where only essential commodities are being made available to the people, a bank manager in the state capital was duped of a whopping amount of Rs 19,000 while placing an online order for liquor on Tuesday.

Reportedly, while surfing on Google, the banker of a nationalized bank came across a website that claimed to accept online orders for making home delivery of liquor in the city. He placed an order for a beer bottle that costed Rs 260.  After making payment, he received a phone call that said his order was accepted and to confirm for home delivery, he had to click on a bar code that will be forwarded to him.

The distressed banker said soon after he clicked on the bar code, he received a message stating that Rs 19000 was debited from his bank account. Immediately, when he called the same number again, it went unreachable.

The banker later mailed a complaint regarding the matter to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, following which an investigation  was initiated. Meanwhile, the police have advised the citizens to be aware of such online fraudsters.