How they take a swipe at your savings | Mumbai news - Hindustan Times
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How they take a swipe at your savings

Hindustan Times | ByJayprakash S Naidu, Mumbai
Jun 29, 2016 12:43 AM IST

In 2014, around 183 cases were registered, while the number shot up to 320 in 2015 and 211 in 2016 till June 12

Debit and credit card frauds comprise majority of the cyber-crime cases registered in the city. Since 2014, the number of cases has only risen.

What is worrying according to cyber experts is that the victims often don’t go to the police to register a complaint as the amount is small --- Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000(BLOOMBERG NEWS)
What is worrying according to cyber experts is that the victims often don’t go to the police to register a complaint as the amount is small --- Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000(BLOOMBERG NEWS)

In 2014, around 183 cases were registered, while the number shot up to 320 in 2015 and 211 in 2016 till June 12 .

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What is worrying according to cyber experts is that the victims often don’t go to the police to register a complaint as the amount is small --- Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000.

Always a question looms large on the minds of the victim ---- will we ever get our money back?

Because of this, people choose not to waste their valuable time, energy and money behind registering a first information report (FIR) and pursuing it till the end.

In one such case when a victim was duped he did not file a FIR. A 50-year-old private tuition teacher in the city told HT, “I got a call from a woman. She said I am calling from a private bank. Since I have an account there I did not suspect it to be a fake caller. She said the bank wants to give money for my bonus points. One bonus point is equal to 0.40 paise. She then asked for my card number.”

“She asked me for my card’s pin number and since I was in a hurry I gave it. I also gave one time passwords (OTP) number which I received on my phone. Around Rs 4,700 number debited from my account. When I called on the phone number it became unreachable within minutes. I called the bank quickly. They replied a month later saying I will have to go to police station. I did not go to police as I thought I will end up losing more money and waste my valuable time,” he added.

Speaking on the issue, Mumbai police spokesperson, deputy commissioner of police (DCP) Ashok Dudhe, told HT, “Banks never call for your personal details so never give any information on phone.”

Experts suggested that individuals who receive calls should be firm and even if threatened they should not share any details on phone. In one such case, a freelance editor for TV serials said, “I had received a call last week. The person said I am calling from the bank and asked which credit card I use. After I told him the bank’s name, he said my debit card has been blocked and details are required to renew it. He asked my AADHAR card number and debit card number.”

The individual did not share the details.

“I said I won’t give it and I will go to the bank. He said if I don’t give the details my bank account will be blocked. I asked him why was he working on a Sunday and threatened him that I will take action against the bank and him after which he disconnected the call.”

Though he was not duped, he also did not inform the police as he did not have time.

To prevent such frauds, DCP Dudhe suggested that the victims should forward such phone numbers and the fraud attempt to the police. “We will block the number and take appropriate action against the caller,” he added.

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