Banks can do a lot to curb cyber crime, feels expert

There is immediate need for three things --- more manpower for the police, trained cops and quick verdicts

The statistics of credit/debit card fraud showed more than one such case get reported to the city police daily. Last year, however, a total of 320 credit/debit card fraud cases were registered with the daily average being less than one case, unlike this year. The police are performing better with more accused getting arrested every year. But since such new form of crime refuses to dwindle an expert on the subject, Vijay Mukhi, says how these can be curbed and what needs to be done to take prompt action against the fraudsters.

There are no legal issues so such cases keep pending. You have electronic evidence so decision should come in one or two months and people should not be made to wait for years (Bloomberg News)

What is the reason for the steep rise in debit/credit card cases?

There is no deterrence today. Nobody is going to jail (convicted) and hence the frauds will be increasing. My card was cloned but the bank did not register an FIR. The unidentified criminal had cloned my card but he could not use it to withdraw money, as he did not have the PIN. Since, there was no fraud, the bank did not file a case. A lot of such crimes are happening but banks do not report it to the police, as their reputation is at stake and their business plummets because people choose not to use credit or debit cards.

Do the Mumbai police need more manpower and technical help?

There is a dire need. There is immediate need for three things --- more manpower for the police, trained cops and quick verdicts. There are no legal issues so such cases keep pending. You have electronic evidence so decision should come in one or two months and people should not be made to wait for years. Also, Maharashtra and Delhi police needs to have national jurisdiction as they are prime targets and criminals operate from other states.

Is there a need for banks and security agencies to increase awareness to curb the menace of credit/debit card fraud cases?

It is very much needed. The banks in India are not serious about cyber-crimes. All over the world banks are leading the fight against cyber-crimes. In India, banks are in coma. They are doing nothing. Sending me an SMS once a month to be aware is not going to help. They need to be proactive. Every time a customer reports a fraud or a fraud attempt the banks should file a case. They should register an FIR. They should give money to the police to buy hardware and train them with new cyber-crime-fighting mechanism. Banks can do a lot to fight back but they don’t.

What precautions do people need to take?

They should not trust every website. Never buy things from just any website. Don’t trust people who tell you won a lottery or prizes and need to deposit a few thousands to get it. They are fooling you. Never believe callers who say they are calling from your bank and never give any personal details to such people. Approach your bank or call its official landline for queries.

Recovering money in credit/debit card fraud is a big issue. Any suggestion on how recovery can be improved?

Recovery is a problem only because police are slow. If somebody clones my credit card and delivers a gift in Delhi, and the police don’t act immediately, the man might collect it from Delhi and travel to another state. The police have to be extremely prompt in catching cyber criminals. Hackers from Bulgaria have been arrested earlier by the Mumbai crime branch with help from the Bulgarian police. So, international relations are important and we need a point person, who can help us in that particular country and vice versa.