As per the hackers’ modus operandi, they disguise themselves as bank officials and call the customers in the context of solving a certain hypothetical issue. They would then meticulously lure the customers and create a one-time pin code for an online mobile banking transaction and would use the pin-code to withdraw money from the customer’s bank account. The hackers have managed to siphon cash worth Rs.7-40 from each individual in the six cases registered in Kalimpong.
State Bank of India, Axis Bank, Union Bank and Bank of India are among the banks where customer’s account has been hacked in the last two months. These banks through letters and SMSs have also started notifying their customers to avoid providing vital banking information to any unknown callers and also to inform the banks if they receive such call.
Moreover, Kalimpong is not the only place which has been plagued by the problem with Siliguri also registering as many as 5 different cases of mobile banking fraud. In a bid to curb the issue, the Siliguri police have started informing the people about such practices through pamphlets and announcements. Meanwhile, Kalimpong police station in-charge Achinta Gupta today informed about the problem through media and urged to people to be aware and vigilant.
Gupta also urged the people to avoid providing any banking information of their account to unknown callers and to inform the police immediately if they receive such calls. He however did not provide any information about the progress in the investigations related to the six registered cases.
Notably, a few days ago hackers managed to withdraw Rs 36,000 from a local doctor’s bank account. The doctor had filed a complaint at the Kalimpong PS. Similarly a local businessman, Binod Agarwal, lost Rs 7,800 on April 26 in a similar way. People say there have been many such cases recently, but not all have taken the initiative to lodge a complaint.
PRADIP LOHAGUN
