More than Rs. 30 crore skimmed off Indian credit card users over 2 months

Over the last few days it has come to light that a global syndicate has been skimming Indian credit card users for the last 2 months. Several cases have been reported where people’s credit card bills and registered mobile numbers have shown fraudulent and unauthorized transactions. It is believed that the total unauthorized transactions so far amount to more than Rs. 30 crore.

Bankers believe that the stolen credit card information has been gathered via compromised retail outlets and stores. Such stores possess card swiping machines which can be skimmed by hackers to reveal the details of all cards that are swiped through them. Once the card information has been gained, it can be utilized to carry out fraudulent online transactions or the card itself can even be physically cloned.

Retail store card fraud

With that in mind, here are some useful tips for credit card users:

  • When carrying out a transaction in a retail store or restaurant, ensure that the card is not taken away from your view. If this is not possible, use cash instead.
  • Do not use your credit card at every retail store that you visit.
  • While using an ATM, ensure that the machine does not seem tampered with or rigged. Also be aware of any suspicious activity or person around you.
  • When carrying out an online transaction, use the virtual keypad to enter your card number and other details.
  • Ensure that your mobile number is registered with your credit card so that you receive an SMS every time a transaction is completed.
  • Install an effective anti-phishing software on your computer especially if you carry out online transactions.

In good news, domestic portals in India are better equipped to deal with such cases. Online credit card transactions here require the buyer to give his name, card number, expiry date, CVV number and his online banking password. For international transactions, the online banking password is unnecessary. However, this also means that fraudulent transactions are mostly carried out in foreign currencies.

The affected banks claim that customers who can prove that they did not make a transaction will get a refund, but this will need to be processed and investigated efficiently. Some banks also take insurance covers if fraudulent transactions cross certain limits. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has also issued a mandate that requires banks to adopt chip-based cards for international transactions by June 2013.

We will update our readers when further developments regarding this global syndicate are revealed.

Rahul Thadani

Rahul Thadani

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  1. Avatar Gena Ram • February 7, 2013 at 2:05 PM

    this card tips is very useful.

    Reply
  2. Avatar Satish C. Suri • February 7, 2013 at 2:31 PM

    The menace of cloning of credit cards by card swap machines and ATMs has been around for few years.

    It is time that regulatory authorities make it mandatory for banks and international virtual money facilitators lie VISA, MASTER CARD, AMEX, DINER, etc. to encode security features to protect card holders’ details, and also provide encoded alerts, which should detect attempted cloning and raise and audible alert at the vendor’s swap machine, and activate card retention at the ATMs.

    Reply
  3. Avatar Ramesh Kumar • February 7, 2013 at 3:05 PM

    In this article you have suggested the user to use virtual key pad to avoid phising.And strangely you donot provide the virtual key pad to your customers.Whereas kaspersky provides it. do you only preach and not practise.

    Reply
    • Rahul Thadani Rahul Thadani • February 8, 2013 at 11:08 AM

      Hi Ramesh,
      This virtual keypad is an inbuilt feature of Windows. You can use it by pressing Windowskey + R (to open the Run window) and then typing “osk”. Additionally, most banking portals provide their own virtual keypad. So if you buy a product from our website there are many ways to use a virtual keypad.
      Regards.

      Reply
  4. Avatar Harendra Kumar • February 7, 2013 at 3:07 PM

    Thanks for updation

    Reply
  5. Avatar Jayant • February 7, 2013 at 3:13 PM

    Can you suggest some good anti phishing s/w with its source and price for personal transactions?

    Reply
  6. Avatar deo gurung • February 7, 2013 at 4:45 PM

    excellent.

    Reply
  7. Avatar JATIN • February 7, 2013 at 5:29 PM

    TEAM ITS TWO TIMES WHEN YOUR QUICK HEAL STOPS WORKING WHILE I WAS SURFING MY WEBSITES. AND I DID,T KNOW WHAT IS REASON BEHIND IT. AS QUICK HEAL SAYS IT DETECT ANY VIRUSES THAT’S WHY I PURCHASES IT BUT I THINK IS IS WASTE OF MONEY. I AM MENTIONING MY LAST WEBSITE WHICH SHOWS ERROR..
    ITS {MINI CLIPS.COM}. PLEASE FIND THE GENUINE SOLUTION AND PLEASE GET BACK TO ME..

    THANKS TEAM,
    JATIN.

    Reply
    • Rahul Thadani Rahul Thadani • February 8, 2013 at 10:59 AM

      Hi Jatin,
      We apologize if you feel that our product has not served you well. However, if a certain website has been blocked by Quick Heal it is because the website contains some malicious content that is recognized by the product. To speak with our support center and better understand the situation feel free to call us at 927-22-33-000.
      Regards.

      Reply
  8. Avatar rajul saxena • February 7, 2013 at 7:31 PM

    Thanks for the update

    Reply
  9. Avatar sunil goswami • February 7, 2013 at 7:55 PM

    thanks for reminding all innocent indian credit card users to be vigilant so that their hard earned money is not siphoned by the culprits.

    Reply
  10. Avatar Dilip Sharma • February 7, 2013 at 7:57 PM

    Thank you.

    Reply
  11. Avatar Bharat Patel • February 7, 2013 at 8:12 PM

    thanks for the update

    Reply
  12. Avatar Naveen Kushwaha • February 7, 2013 at 8:22 PM

    Thanking You for giving that important tips.

    Reply
  13. Avatar PRITAM TEWANEY • February 7, 2013 at 8:34 PM

    LUCKILY, HERE IN PANAMA MOST OF THE CREIT CARDS ARE insured (THE USER PAYS FROM US$3 to US$5 AS MONTHLY PREMIUM & IS 100% COVERED FROM ANY FRAUD &/or CARD ROBBERY).
    I THINK IT’S HIGH TIME THE BANKS IN INDIA & OTHER COUNTRIES ADOPT THIS METHOD SO THAT THEIR CARD USERS WITHOUT FEAR CAN USE THIS PRODUCT ANYWHERE NO MATTER WHETHER IT’S A PAANWAALA kiosk OR A 7-STAR HOTEL!

    WITH BEST WISHES,

    PRITAM TEWANEY
    PANAMA
    +507-6675-4701
    WWWdotAIYELLOWdotME

    Reply
  14. Avatar tapas • February 7, 2013 at 9:39 PM

    It is indeed very useful and awareness information. It is high time that banks put condition that merchants should arrange to swipe the card in customer’s view. Often in hotels / restaurants/ petrol pumps card is taken out of customers’s view for quite some time, which need to be prohibited. Also some banks ( Axis) is issuing chip based cards. Transaction in online is very confusing, whether it is safely done, or compromised, difficult to understand. Software firms / banks can find out some remedy so that we feel confident and relaxed while doing transaction , rather than spending tense days & nights till nothing happens for some months.

    Reply
  15. Avatar k p hegde • February 7, 2013 at 10:13 PM

    thanks

    Reply
  16. Avatar shivam arora • February 7, 2013 at 10:26 PM

    sir thnks for the information..
    and please just tell me one very good antu phising software..which i can install in my laptop..

    Reply
  17. Avatar v.muthukrishnan • February 7, 2013 at 10:27 PM

    These frawds can be eliminated by adopting an initiation 5/7 letter password.
    similar to bank lockers. even if the original card is lost nobody can use the same without knowing the initiation password.
    It is like double lever lock.

    Reply
  18. Avatar banwari • February 7, 2013 at 10:50 PM

    thanks sir

    Reply
  19. Avatar Rahul • February 7, 2013 at 10:51 PM

    This may not be the proper place to put up this ques but I’d like to know that is it easy to clone a credit card that has both a chip and a magnetic strip?

    Reply
    • Rahul Thadani Rahul Thadani • February 8, 2013 at 10:55 AM

      Hi Rahul,
      It is much harder to clone a credit card that has a chip and a magnetic strip. The chip can be programmed to contain assorted information so it gives the banks an effective defense mechanism.
      Regards.

      Reply
  20. Avatar Abhishek Shukla • February 8, 2013 at 12:28 AM

    thanks for such knowledge update

    Reply
  21. Avatar Milind • February 8, 2013 at 1:18 AM

    do Quick-Heal & Guardian include anti-phishing capabilities. else can u recommend such a software.

    Thanks.

    Reply
  22. Avatar K SHIVA SHANKER • February 8, 2013 at 6:48 AM

    This information may be given as a circular along with monthly bills by the banker to create more awareness.

    Reply
  23. Avatar Ketan Harkhani • February 8, 2013 at 9:04 AM

    Thnks its worthy

    Reply
  24. Avatar HANUMANT RAU • February 8, 2013 at 10:06 AM

    VERY USEFUL INFORMATION, THANKS.

    Reply
  25. Avatar Sachin • February 8, 2013 at 11:10 AM

    Thanks for the update. Very useful tips.

    Reply
  26. Avatar RAMESH NARANG • February 8, 2013 at 8:26 PM

    VERY GOOD INFORMATION

    Reply
  27. Avatar Sangram • February 9, 2013 at 6:27 PM

    I tried Some Free Antivirus Applications including AVG & Avast and thought they’ll work as my old and faithful Quick Heal but after using few days I saw my laptop is a store house for virus and spywares! I was scared because I do shopping online and was afraid about my my financial details. And that’s why I’m back to my Old Friend Quick Heal

    Reply
  28. Avatar sameer • February 19, 2013 at 12:38 PM

    Thanks for such a crucial info..

    Really thanks alot

    Reply

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