In a disturbing case of cyber fraud, a man from Udupi lost Rs 2.12 lakh from his bank account days after using his debit card at a hospital. The victim, identified as Suresh Rao, filed a complaint with the local police stating that he had used his debit card to pay hospital bills on June 3. Several days later, he noticed unauthorized transactions totaling Rs 2.12 lakh from his account.
How the Fraud Occurred
According to the complaint, Rao used his debit card at a hospital's payment counter. Unbeknownst to him, the card details were likely skimmed or cloned. The fraudsters then used the information to make multiple transactions over the following days. The victim only realized the fraud when he checked his bank statement and saw the suspicious debits.
Police Investigation Underway
The Udupi police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Information Technology Act and are investigating the matter. Preliminary inquiries suggest that the skimming device may have been installed at the hospital's payment terminal. Police are also looking into CCTV footage and transaction records to trace the culprits.
Precautions for Card Users
This incident serves as a stark reminder for debit and credit card users to remain vigilant. Experts recommend covering the keypad while entering PINs, regularly checking bank statements, and using contactless payments where possible. Banks advise customers to immediately report any unauthorized transactions and block their cards if fraud is suspected.
The victim has urged the public to be cautious while using cards at public places. Meanwhile, the hospital management has assured full cooperation with the investigation.
