Receiving Alerts From A Bank Where You Never Opened An Account? Here's What It Could Mean

You receive a message saying your account has been blocked. A few days later, another one informs you that a systematic investment plan (SIP) instalment has been debited. Then comes an offer for a banking service. The problem is, you have never opened an account with that bank. While it may appear to be a simple messaging error, it could actually mean your mobile number has been linked to someone else’s bank account.

The issue recently came under the spotlight after Amit Trivedi, author and independent director of Lakshya Asset Management, shared a similar experience in a LinkedIn post. Trivedi said he received a message from a bank informing him that it was offering free doorstep banking services for senior citizens above 70 years. He pointed out that he is neither above 70 years of age nor a customer of the bank.

In his post, Trivedi said this was not the first time he had received such messages. According to him, the same bank had earlier sent alerts about a non-existent account, including a debit towards am SIP and a notification stating that the account had been blocked. Referring to the mandatory know your customer (KYC) process, he questioned how such errors could happen when banks regularly ask customers to verify and update their details.

How Does A Number Get Linked To The Wrong Account

Banks register a customer’s mobile number to send transaction alerts, security notifications and service-related messages. If the number entered during account opening or a later update is incorrect, those alerts may be delivered to someone else.

Such mistakes can arise because of manual data entry errors, incorrect updates to customer records, problems during technology upgrades or data migration, or because an old mobile number has been reassigned by a telecom operator to a new subscriber. Unless the bank’s records are corrected, messages meant for one customer may continue reaching another.

Why KYC Is Part Of The Conversation

Under KYC rules, banks are required to verify the identity and contact details of customers while opening accounts and during periodic updates. Customers are also asked to complete re-KYC from time to time so that their records remain current.

Even so, verifying documents is only one part of the process. It is also crucial to keep accurate information. If a mobile number is incorrectly linked to an account, it might mean that customer records may not have been updated or maintained properly, despite KYC requirements.

What Actions Can Customers Take

If this happens, reach out to the bank right away; inform them that your mobile number was accidentally associated with someone else’s account, and ask them to fix the records.

If the bank is unable to resolve the issue, you can further lodge the complaint through its internal grievance redressal system. In case the customer is not happy with the outcome, he/she can complain to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in accordance with the Integrated Ombudsman Scheme. Do not share one-time passwords (OTPs), respond to an unsolicited request, or click on links in unsolicited messages until the problem is resolved.