A lawyer from Lokhandwala in Mumbai lost Rs62,000 to debit card fraud, as her money was withdrawn in the United States last month. The woman approached her bank asking for a refund, after which she was asked to approach her local police station to file a FIR against the unidentified cyber criminal.

According to her complaint, she was at home when she received a message on her mobile phone around 1am on June 1. The message was sent from her Indian state-owned bank, alerting her about the money transaction made from her account.

The woman couldnt do anything at night, and approached the bank the next morning where she was informed that the money was withdrawn from her account using her debit card. The bank also informed that the money was withdrawn in the USA.

The woman registered an FIR with the local police this week. A police official requesting anonymity said, We do not know how the cyber fraudster managed to withdraw the amount. We are taking help from cyber police to investigate the case.

The case assumes significance as recently, the Mumbai Crime Branchs Cyber police had busted a card racket where a Bulgarian national was caught withdrawing money of Chinese nationals in India. The stolen data of credit/debit cards belonging to Chinese nationals was used to make cloned cards, and their money was withdrawn from an International bank in Mumbai.

Advocate Vicky Shah, a cyber-expert said, The card can only be used internationally once it is international debit enabled. Perpahs the victims card was internationally enabled prior to being cloned. It needs to be found out if its a magnetic strip card or an EMV chip card. If its an EMV chip card it is very difficult to be cloned, and then its a unique case. As a preventive measure, customers should replace their existing cards with EMV chip cards.

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Mumbai lawyer loses 62000 to card cloning, criminal withdraws money in the United States - Hindustan Times