In a shocking case of banking fraud, a fake branch of the State Bank of India (SBI) was set up in the Chhapora village of Chhattisgarh's Sakti district, duping local villagers and unemployed individuals. The scam, which took place just 10 days after the branch opened, involved the recruitment of six individuals under the pretense of legitimate employment at SBI. The branch appeared entirely authentic, featuring new furniture, official-looking paperwork, and functioning bank counters. Unaware of the deception, villagers began conducting transactions, while the newly appointed staff celebrated their roles.However, suspicions were raised when the manager of a nearby SBI branch in Dabra noticed the unauthorized setup. Upon investigation by police and SBI officials, it was discovered that the branch was fake. The supposed manager and key suspects involved in the scam fled before they could be apprehended. During the raid, police seized computer systems and documents, but official bank records were missing. The fraudulent scheme had tricked several people, extracting large sums of money, including 5.8 lakh rupees from one individual. Cases have been registered against multiple accused under various criminal charges, and the police are currently on the lookout for the culprits.