Rise in Cyber Fraud: SBI Customers in Kochi Targeted by Scammers through Fake Toll-Free Numbers

The State Bank of India (SBI) authorities have taken action after one of their customers fell prey to a cyber fraud, losing Rs 1.6 lakh. The incident came to light when the victim tried to withdraw money from an ATM last year. Despite unsuccessful attempts, the amount was debited from his account. In an attempt to resolve the issue, the victim searched online for SBI's customer care number and unknowingly dialed a fraudulent number set up by scammers impersonating bank officials.

After contacting the fake customer care number, the victim began receiving calls and messages from various numbers, all pretending to be SBI officers. These fraudsters, with cunning tactics, convinced the victim to install a remote access app on his mobile phone under the false promise of returning the debited amount. However, once the scammers gained access to the victim's online banking window, they swiftly siphoned off Rs 1.60 lakh from his account.

The matter was promptly reported by the bank to Thopumpady police, leading to the registration of a case based on the chief branch manager's complaint. The victim, seeking justice, approached the banking ombudsman, arguing that SBI should have detected the unauthorized transactions initiated by the fraudsters. Consequently, the ombudsman ruled in favor of the victim and ordered SBI to reimburse the lost amount.

The police have found this case intriguing and discovered similar incidents involving fake toll-free numbers targeting customers of other banks as well. These bogus numbers often appear in search engine results alongside genuine banking contact information, highlighting a lack of adequate mechanisms to filter out such fraudulent entities.

Additionally, the Kochi city police have registered another case based on SBI's complaint, wherein a customer lost Rs 2.25 lakh to cyber fraud. The victim received an SMS claiming that their PAN details were outdated in their bank account and was directed to a deceptive website resembling the bank's account page. Falling for the ruse, the victim disclosed their bank account details, leading to the loss of Rs 2.25 lakh.

These incidents serve as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and caution while dealing with financial matters online. Customers must remain wary of unsolicited calls, messages, and links, and should only rely on verified sources for contacting their banks. Banks, on the other hand, need to enhance their security measures to swiftly detect and prevent fraudulent activities, ultimately safeguarding their customers' assets and personal information.