Online fraudsters pose as RBI governor

Online fraudsters have devised a new modus operandi to dupe gullible netizens,by sending emails,purportedly from none other than the Reserve Bank of India. Going a step further,not only the names of United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and RBI Governor D Subbarao are being used in the mails,purportedly being sent as ‘payment notification’,released by the RBI; but going a step further,the mails also carry D Subbarao’s picture adding to their ‘authenticity’. In return,the ‘target’ is asked to furnish all his personal and financial details and deposit a sum of few thousands rupees initially to avail a bounty of thousands of US Dollars.

The mails carrying a notification,released by RBI,reads,“RBI Official Payment Notification – Attn. Beneficiary,The Foreign Exchange Transfer Department Reserve Bank of India has decided to bring to your attention,that you were listed as a beneficiary in the recent schedule for payment of outstanding debts incurred by the BRITISH GOVERNMENT pending since 2010 to 2012. Recently on the 01 March,2012. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor,Dr D Subbarao and Ban Ki-moon Secretary-General of the United Nations met with the Senate Tax Committee on Finance RBI Mumbai/Delhi branch. Regarding unclaimed funds which have been due for a long run,at end of the meeting (RBI) Governor,Dr D Subbarao mandate all unclaimed funds to be release back to the beneficiary stating that it is an unfair practice to withhold funds for government basket for one reason or the other for tax accumulations. Therefore,we are writing this email to inform you that $500,000 US DOLLARS will be release to you in your name,as it was committed for (RBI) Governor that Beneficiary will have to pay crediting fees only. So you are therefore required to pay 13,500 INR ONLY in cash deposit. To credit your account immediately making a decline for 2 working day after date of receiving this mail. Also reconfirm your details- for crediting”.

The Chandigarh Police’s Cyber Cell,has started receiving many such mails lately,and has cautioned the city residents not to respond to such mails and completely ignore it. “Many kinds of tricks are being played by such fraudsters these days. People are always looking for such lotteries,rewards. They fall prey to such tricks and then rue later and approach us with complaints. But our moot question to all such people remains the same – if you had not participated in an online lottery,how could you get it? But,there are many people who ignore our advice and pay the price,” said Inspector Neeraj Sarna,Incharge,Cyber Cell,UT Police Crime Branch.

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“It is correct that such tricksters have started using RBI Governor’s pictures,this is nothing. The fraudsters can go to any extent. There had been mails,which carry World Bank’s chief’s pictures as well,” Inspector Sarna added.

The ‘target’ is asked to submit his full name,address,mobile number,occupation,age,nationality,email id,bank account number,account holder’s name,bank’s branch and name,etc. and asked to mail it to another fictitious mail id – info@in-rbi.co.in . Interestingly,the mail carries a warning as well,which reads,“NOTE: If you are not the rightful owner of this E-mail Address,Please don’t reply to this message,for any double claim will lead to Disqualification of this Fund. Be Warned!!! You are to keep all information away from the general public For security reason…”. It follows with a heartiest congratulations extended by none other than Dr D Subbarao.