Messages on how to stay safe will be spread through postcards and direct posts

In the last four years, the cyber crime cell of CB CID has received only 70 phishing cases from Tamil Nadu with the majority of them reported from Chennai. Phishing is under-reported, according to the CB CID police.

To prevent such crimes and create awareness among people about banking ombudsman, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has joined hands with the Department of Posts and the CB CID police. Messages on staying safe from phishing will be spread through postcards and direct posts. This financial literacy awareness campaign was launched here on Monday.

Amit Kumar Singh, Superintendent of Police, CB CID, said: “It is difficult to track such crimes and retrieving money lost as most of the bank accounts are operated with fictitious addresses outside the State. We are also working closely with mobile service providers to monitor bulk text messages. People can complain about such crimes to 044-28511600.”

RBI plans to launch the facility to spread messages on Meghdoot cards and direct posts in Chennai soon. RBI’s regional director J. Sadakkadulla said that about one lakh post cards with messages on banking ombudsman had been printed and will be distributed in Erode, Madurai, Kanyakumari and Coimbatore districts as online fraudulent complaints were more in these places.

Similarly, nearly 80,000 direct posts, which are unaddressed articles with awareness messages and RBI pamphlets, will also be delivered by post men in the chosen places.

“Many people still don’t know where and how to complain of banking grievances and fake text messages. We want to reach out to people through post offices,” he said.

The media posts and direct posts services have been a popular means for direct marketing. Charles Lobo, chief postmaster general, Tamil Nadu circle, recalled how people thronged showrooms after a kitchenware brand opted with advertisements through direct posts.

Debit cards

The RBI’s banking ombudsman, Chennai, has handled 8,500 complaints last year. Of this nearly 65 per cent is from urban areas and mostly related to debit cards and delay in disbursal of education loans. S.Raja, Banking Ombudsman, RBI, said other complaints relate to delay in pension and credit card complaints. Of the 1,383 complaints pertaining to loans, 83 per cent was regarding education loan. This campaign will help reach out to rural people on banking ombudsman facility.