Despite concerted alerts issued by banks and a series of awareness campaigns conducted by the government, police and other agencies, a housewife has fallen victim to an online fraudster, who had cheated her to the tune of ₹1 lakh after introducing himself as a bank officer.
The fraudster called Rabia Sarbudhin (35) in Kilakarai on Tuesday, posing himself as a bank official and secured her 16-digit debit card number after stating that the number was required to renew the validity of her card.
After she gave him the number, the fraudster started operating her bank account with State Bank of India (SBI) through online banking system, and siphoned ₹1 lakh after making as many as 21 transactions. After every single transaction, he would call her and obtain the one time password, stating that it was required to proceed further to renew the validity of her card.
After making four transactions on Tuesday, he called her again on Wednesday and made 17 transactions, the police said. Ms. Sarbudhin grew suspicious belatedly and contacted the bank only to come to know of the fraud. The police said the caller spoke to her in Tamil and secured the one time password after every transaction.
She had ₹2.35 lakh, sent by her husband, who was employed in a foreign country, in her savings bank account. She had saved the money for building a house, she told the police.
The police have registered a case and launched an investigation with the help of Cyber Crime Unit and technical experts.
