ROURKELA: At a time when the government is attempting to push cashless transaction, the incidents of online frauds are on the rise in and around Rourkela with gullible users of e-payment falling prey to tactical methods of fraudsters.
Sources said in the past fortnight, the Rourkela branch of SBI at Bisra Square received complaints of at least six fraudulent digital transactions in various e-wallets involving amount ranging from Rs 12,000 to as high as Rs 88,000.
They said since bank accounts are linked to Aadhaar card, the fraudsters have adopted the modus operandi of faking as bank personnel and calling victims over phone asking for Aadhaar numbers on the pretext of updating bank accounts.
In the latest fraud, the miscreants, on getting Aadhaar numbers from the victims, commit unauthorised transactions and immediately the customers receive One Time Passwords (OTPs) on their mobile numbers. The fraudsters again call them and seek OTPs on the same plea of updating account. After getting the OTPs, they complete the transaction and transfer amounts to their bank or e-wallet accounts.
Ignorant people are also becoming victims of ATM frauds.
In a recent incident, a youth of Kaleiposh village under Lahunipara police limits, who did not know how to use his ATM card, handed it over to his friend, who reportedly cleaned up Rs 1.5 lakh from his account. The same accused also reportedly withdrew Rs 50,000 from the account of another village woman.
SBI Regional Manager B B Das said while using digital payment applications including PayTM, PayU, Mpesa, Airtelmoney, Bookmyshow, Fasttickets and Olacabs, the users must be careful and they must not share their banking details with others. He said banks never ask for Aadhaar number or OTP, details of ATM or credit cards. He said while issuing plastic payment instruments or activating e-wallets, they sensitise customers on safeguards, but customers are still falling prey.
Rourkela Police District sources said at least 60 cases of e-wallet frauds reported over the last four years are pending. The overburdened local police lack technical expertise and manpower to pursue these cases. Bulk of the frauds is traced to a tech-savvy gang operating from Jamtara district of Jharkhand. IG of Police (Western Range) RK Sharma said wider awareness is needed to prevent these types of digital frauds.
Latest cases
● In the past fortnight, Rourkela branch of SBI received complaints of six fraudulent digital transactions
● A youth of Kaleiposh village, who did not know how to use his ATM card, handed it over to his friend, who reportedly cleaned up K1.5 lakh from his account
● At least 60 cases of e-wallet frauds reported over the last four years are pending
● Bulk of the frauds is traced to a tech-savvy gang operating from Jamtara district of Jharkhand