RBI issues warning against cyber, ATM related frauds

SHILLONG: Concerned over the increase in crimes related to cyber frauds or ATM related frauds, the Reserve Bank of India, Shillong, in its message, stated that the internet and social networking sites have become favorite hunting grounds for miscreants who commit frauds and dupe many unsuspecting members of public of their hard earned money.
Moreover, the Meghalaya Police has reported that a large number of cases have been registered where fraudsters have cheated the gullible members of public by sending fictitious offers through emails, letters, mobile phones, SMSs and others.
Despite repeated pleas and advisories issued by the Reserve Bank of India as well as police authorities urging people to be cautious while dealing with such cases, there has hardly been any decline in the number of cyber frauds or ATM related frauds.
The Reserve Bank of India, Shillong, in its effort to make the public vigilant of such frauds, has conducted awareness programmes across the State to disseminate the information about nefarious activities of such fraudsters.
For the general information of the public, the Reserve Bank of India has issued notice that it never sends mails, SMSs or makes calls asking for personal information like bank account details, passwords and others.
It neither keeps nor offers funds to anyone. The RBI also informed the public not to be deceived in joining multilevel marketing/chain marketing/pyramid structures scheme as this has been banned under Prize Chit and Money Circulation (Banning) Act, 1978. Sometimes, criminals claiming to be bank employees will call informing that credit card or debit card has been deactivated and will ask for pin numbers for reactivation. Public have been warned not to disclose any information about their credit card or debit card especially the pin numbers.
Through networking sites like Facebook, miscreants befriend people and after gaining their confidence, they will ask the people to deposit money because the gifts they sent were confiscated by the custom officials or agencies. The RBI has warned the public to be vigilant of such tricks and not become victims to such fraudsters.