VISAKHAPATNAM: Vizag City Cyber Police are very serious about the increasing Cyber crimes in the city limits. Recently around Rs 22 lakh amount was drawn at Mumbai by the unknown fraudsters from around 40- 45 individual bank accounts of Vizag citizens through the 'cloning ATM cards' method. City Cyber Crime Police officials are making arrangements to send a special team to Mumbai on Monday as part of their investigation regarding this issue. On Sunday also, few victims lodged complaints with the City Cyber Crime PS.
According to the Police information.. between the period of May 23 to 26, 2018 some Cyber fraudsters arranged 'Skimmer apparatus' at various bank ATM's in the City. Later, after the Original Bank Account holders withdraw amounts by using their Bank ATM credit/ debit cards through those ATM centers, they collected and analysed all the data related to those accounts from their pre-installed 'Skimmer apparatus' at those ATM centers. Then with the help of data, they made duplicate ATM cards (Cloning) for those individual bank account holders. Later, in the third week of October, the fraudsters withdrawn/ made online transfer of amounts to a tune of around Rs 22 lakh from the bank accounts of around 42 persons belongs to Vizag through various ATM Centers at Mumbai City.
"Around 40- 45 persons from the City and surrounding areas contacted and complained us that.. Though they were not withdrawn any amount from their Bank Accounts using their ATM Debit/ Credit cards, they got SMS msg's from the Bank online service that.. they had withdrawn money from their Bank Accounts.. and they were all shocked with this. Later majority of the victims contacted us and basing on their complaints we registered the cases on this Cyber Crimes. So far, through the investigation, we came to know that.. the fraudsters acquired the Bank Accounts and ATM Cards data of several individuals who made money transactions from Vizag- MVP Colony Double Road- Punjab National Bank ATM center and Yes Bank's ATM at the Beach Road- Varun Inox complex in between 23 to 26 dates of last May month.. In this connection we request all the Bank ATM Debit/ Credit card holders who done money transactions through the above two ATM Centers on the above specific dates must change their ATM card PIN's (Personal Identification Numbers) immediately.." V Gopinath, CI- Vizag City Cyber Crime division told TNIE.
Police officials also informed about the entire fraudulent activity to the concerned Bank officials i.e., to MVP Colony Double road PNB and the Beach Road Varun Inox - Yes Bank and advised to inform the same to their Account holders who were made transactions through the above two ATM Centers on the specific dates and re-create their ATM card PIN's immediately. 'We also advised the Bankers to enhance Cyber security measures like installation of CC Cameras, anti-theft alarm system and 'Skimmers' identification apparatus etc at their ATM centers. Even individuals can also have these 'Skimmers identification apparatus i.e., they may download the 'Skimmer identification App' which identifies the Skimmers at the ATM's within a radius of 10- 15 yards. These Skimmers are visible and one can see them at the ATM Card placing slots if observed keenly. People must take every care while making digital money transactions at Petrol bunks, shopping malls and other business places.." CI explained.