Maharashtra sees highest number Of card, internet banking frauds

Maharashtra witnessed the maximum number of fraud cases relating to credit/debit cards and internet banking in 2012, followed by Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Karnataka and Delhi, Parliament was informed today.

The number of such cases in Maharashtra stood at 162, followed by Tamil Nadu (136), Haryana (127), Karnataka (83) and the national capital (75) in 2012, Minister of State for Communications and IT Milind Deora said in a written reply to Rajya Sabha.

These cases are where the amount involved is at least Rs one lakh and have been reported by banks.

The total amount involved in frauds relating to credit card, debit card and internet banking rose by 74 per cent to Rs 38.35 crore in 2012 compared to Rs 22.03 crore in 2011, the minister added.

The total number of credit card, debit card and internet banking fraud cases across the country rose to 682 in 2012 from 638 in 2011, he added.

"Internet frauds reported in the country are relating to phishing, usage of stolen credit cards/debit cards, unauthorised fraudulent Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) transactions, fictitious offers of fund transfer, remittance towards participation in lottery, money circulation schemes and other fictitious offers of cheap funds," the minister said.

Quoting from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data, Deora added the number of fraud cases as reported by banks due to credit/debit cards, internet has decreased from 15,018 in 2010 to 8,322 in 2012.

"However, the amount involved has increased from Rs 40.49 crore in the year 2010 to Rs 52.67 crore in the year 2012," he said.

The cases registered by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) pertaining to financial frauds under the provisions of Information Technology Act, 200 along with other acts declined to 8 in 2012 from 10 in 2011, he added.

The amount involved in such, however, more than doubled to Rs 28.80 crore in 2012 from Rs 12.43 crore in 2011.

Deora said that cyber crime cases have shown an increasing trend in the past few years.

"As per the cyber crime data maintained by National Crime Records Bureau, a total of 420, 966 and 1,791 cyber crime cases were registered under Information technology Act during 2009, 2010 and 2011, respectively, thereby showing an increasing trend," Deora said.

The Minister further added that a total of 276, 356 and 422 cases were registered under cyber crime related sections of IPC during 2009, 2010 and 2011, respectively.