SBI Customer looted again in Silchar; “How are the fraudsters getting data” questions family

Bank customers are becoming easy targets of fraudsters in Silchar and entire Barak Valley. Snatchers are snatching cash from customers immediately after they withdraw from bank or fraudsters are using data that rests with the bank to scam people. The banking system in Barak Valley has many loopholes in its security arrangements and it needs immediate attention.

Silchar resident, an advocate by profession, Monichayan Das Kanungo became the latest victim of the fraudsters operating freely. On August 25, 2019, Kanungo received a message where it was written that his ATM card has been blocked because of his incomplete KYC (Know Your Customer) details. To unblock his card he needs to verify his details. There was a helpline number (+916297537328) mentioned in the message.

“My father is an old customer of SBI,” says, Monishita Das Kanungo, daughter of the victim. She informs that the very next day (August 26. 2019) her father received a call from the same helpline number that was mentioned in the SMS her father received the previous day. “The person called at around 9:45 AM and told my father that it was regarding his debit card. To earn my father’s confidence that person first told him the name of his nominees which were all correct. Then that person confirmed the address and other documents that rests at the bank, all of which were correct too. The person also had my father’s previous ATM card number which got blocked recently,” says Monishita

After all the verification, the person asked Kanungo for his ATM Card number, CVV and then OTP and around 10:00 AM Rs 49672.27 got deducted from his account. “He was at his office and did not see the message at that very moment. After he realised he got scammed, he rushed to SBI main branch and complained about the same. The manager of the branch told my father that he needs to file a complaint in SBI main office,” adds Monishita Das Kanungo.

While the message of the money getting debited and the fraudster mentioning that the card has been blocked is still there in Kanungo’s phone, the sms asking for OTP got deleted, “He has no clue what happened to that message,” informs Monishita.

She says that when her father reached the bank to complain about the incidence, he found out that he is not the only one who has been scammed as there were many other victims in the bank with a similar case.

An expert in cyber laws and security after checking the messages says that this does not look like a possible hack or breach of data. “SBI’s security system is one of the best in the business. It is very difficult to hack through it and I do not think anyone will do it for Rs 50,000. If the incident as stated by the victim’s daughter is true, a police case needs to be filed immediately. Police must investigate the matter in details to figure out if bankers are part of a racket leaking out phone numbers and other details,” the expert added.

An analyst in the banking and financial service industry too opined on the incident. He said that it is very much unlikely that an SBI bank official will leak data to scammers intentionally. He too reiterated that an immediate police complaint needs to be filed and thorough investigation needs to be done. “There are many third-party associates that SBI works with. The bank has outsourced its ATM maintenance. The customer care service (call center) is also outsourced. These associates too have access to certain data so an investigation is must as the number of cases is high,” the analyst added.

Though the banks send messages to customers to inform that no bank officials ever ask for OTP yet customers get trapped and spell out the confidential details. Is it time for banks to invest a little more in educating customers especially the non-tech-savvy ones so that they do not lose their money?