The officials of Bank Fraud Complaint Cell of Cyber Crime Police Station claimed that Rs 2,54,086 lost due to fraudulent bank transactions had been recovered in two months from July 1 to August 31 and returned to the complainants thanks to the cell’s prompt response to the complaints received by it. The department received 41 complaints regarding the same in two months. STF, Uttarakhand SSP P Renuka Devi said that they are leaving no stone unturned to crack such cases at the earliest.
She said that after receiving complaints, the police officers of local police stations concerned are being directed to register FIRs against the accused regarding such cases promptly.
Meanwhile, a police officer said that the common people in Dehradun as elsewhere in the State are scared with net banking transactions- related crimes showing a spurt presently.
What is happening is that the people are receiving unwanted phone calls daily from myriad sources, some from the banks they are customers of. Those on the other side cajole them into parting with details about the ATM card numbers, passwords and the like, they say. They further say that the callers make them nervous by saying that their cards would be deactivated in case they do not comply.
In one of the complaints, a complainant said that he received phone call from a person introducing himself as Rahul Kumar from Mumbai. He asked the complainant to tell him about his ATM card number. He warned that otherwise his ATM card would close.
Another complainant stated that he had received a call from one claiming to be SBI branch manager and asking him to inform him about his Aadhar card number and 16 -digit bank account number to enable him to link his Aadhar Card to his bank account.
One more complainant stated to the cyber cell that a person, saying he was calling him from Mumbai, asked him to tell him about his 16- digit ATM number with the validity of his ATM expiring.
SSP P Renuka Devi cautioned the people against responding to unwanted phone calls. “Make no mistake that the bank officials do not ask for ATM passwords. They must not disclose any such information related to bank account details, ATM card and password over phone under any circumstances. They should visit their banks instead,” she said.
She said that a team comprising sub-inspector Marut Sah, sub-inspector Rajeev Semwal, constables Mohammad Usman and Mukesh Kumar at Bank Fraud Complaint Cell has been formed to recover the money lost thus.
She appealed to the people to register their complaints at the local police stations or Bank Fraud Complaint Cells soon after they discover illegal bank transaction.
She further said that as per the investigation of the complaints received, the accused make illegal bank transactions through online shopping, mobile recharge, money transfer and other means, spiriting away money from the victims’ bank accounts.