Daijiworld Media Network - Chikkamagaluru (SP)

Chikkamagaluru, Apr 5: About 33 accounts maintained by customers with State Bank of Mysore (SBM) Sringeri branch were hacked and lacs of rupees were transferred therefrom. The fact came into the open after the customers of the bank began getting messages on their mobile phones about money having been debited to their accounts.

It was later found that funds were also stolen from several customers of the bank in Raichur, Bidar and Vijayapura districts through online transactions. As per present information, 16 accounts were hacked in Bidar, four in Raichur, and one in Vijayapura. A total of eight lac rupees was pilfered from these accounts, and all these funds have gone to the same entity.

All the debit transactions were affected in the name of 'Gurgaon Mobiquick', it is said. The bank manager and the affected customers have filed police complaints about having been cheated. District superintendent of police (SP), Santosh Babu, said that there is information that such unauthorized transactions were also affected by hackers at various SBM branches within the state. This might well turn out to be one of the biggest cyber crimes in the state.

Customers, who were taken aback by the messages about their accounts having been debited, went to the bank and checked account balance through ATM centre on Sunday evening. They found that the amounts mentioned in messages had in fact been debited. They contacted the bank manager, who, with the help of other staff, checked and found that the accounts had been hacked, and money was transferred. The policemen were informed immediately, and the accounts of affected customers were blocked. In several cases, small amounts were debited repeatedly over a short period, and customers received hundreds of debit messages thereof till entire balance in the account was exhausted.

An investigation led by district SP, Santosh Babu, has been launched. As the issue seems to have wider ramifications, a state level investigation by cyber cell may may be ordered soon.

Deputy general manager of State Bank of Mysore, Ramachandra Bhat, speaking to reporters, said that a high level inquiry has been ordered into the issue. He said that a well-organized gang was behind this entire episode. He assured the customers who have lost the money that the bank would be reimbursing to them the amounts lost by them. He reassured the bank customers that steps have been taken to ensure that the accounts of bank customers are not hacked henceforth, and asked people not to get unduly perturbed. He also requested the customers not to share information about their confidential information like ATM PIN and other information with others.