pune

Updated: Oct 29, 2017 23:13 IST

The Pune Police’s cybercrime department is reporting a spike in fraud cases involving debit and credit cards. The cyber cell, during the first nine months of 2017, has received 3,123 complaints involving cybercrime. Of these, 2,350 complaints were related to money stolen with illegal use of card credentials, according to statistics shared by the police officials with HT.

The number of complaints related to cybercrime received in 2016 were 1,398, of which 738 cases involved fraudulent transfers using card credentials. Online fraudsters also have a new bait in their arsenal - the government’s diktat making it mandatory to link the Aadhaar card number with one’s bank account before December 31, 2017.

“This is the latest scheme being used by fraudsters to get gullible victims to divulge their bank details,” Sudhir Hiremath, deputy commissioner of police, cyber cell, told HT. According to the police, senior citizens are the primary targets for such modus operandi.

However, a 27-year-old IT professional from Kerala, working in Pune, was also duped by a man on the phone claiming to be a bank employee. “I gave my details after the man told me that all my bank accounts will be blocked if I don’t share my Aadhaar information immediately,” said the IT professional, requesting anonymity.

According to cyber security expert Rohan Nyayadhish, “Fraudsters use different ways to commit online crimes. Online fraud on the pretext of linking it to Aadhaar is just one of the ways.” DCP Hiremath, however, believes it is better to be safe than sorry. “Do not share your Aadhaar card or bank details with anyone on the phone. Period,” he says.

According to DCP Hiremath, the Pune police cyber branch has been using advanced technology to curb cybercrime. “Technology and manpower are the two key factors to curb this problem.We are also taking the help of some technology companies to move forward,” he added.