The state Information Technology department has directed banks and telecom companies to pay compensation amounting to more than Rs 1.5 crore to the five victims of cyber fraud. Three of these cases were probed by the police in Mumbai and one each in Thane and Nashik between 2012 and 2014. In the largest pay-out ordered by former Information Technology Department Principal Secretary Rajesh Aggarwal, who acts as the adjudicating officer, a Thane-based businessman has been awarded a compensation of Rs 50 lakh. The complainant, who operates an engineering firm, suffered losses of Rs 54.24 lakh in December 2013 after the amount was illegally transferred from his account in Punjab National Bank in a series of 28 transactions. Investigations showed that the perpetrators of the crime, who are still at large, fraudulently obtained duplicate SIM cards at a Vodafone gallery twice, using copies of the complainant’s personal documents. On both occasions, in August and September 2013, the complainant’s phone suddenly switched off, requiring him to visit the gallery and obtain another SIM card. According to the police, the transactions took place while the complainant’s phone was off. The money was then transferred to accounts in IndusInd Bank and Yes Bank. In his order, Aggarwal directed Punjab National Bank and Vodafone to pay the complainant Rs 20 lakh each and fined IndusInd Bank and Yes Bank Rs 5 lakh and Rs 3 lakh each. Aggarwal also singled out Vodafone and criticised its security system. Aggarwal also awarded a compensation of Rs 40 lakh to an NRI-senior citizen after the State Bank of India transferred Rs 63 lakh from his FD account. The IT Department also awarded a total of Rs 16 lakh as compensation to the proprietor of a Mumbai-based private firm after Rs 16.75 lakh was illegal transferred from its account in the Central Bank of India. Police investigations showed that unidentified individuals had changed the phone number registered by the complainant with the bank. As a result, the complainant did not receive SMS alerts about the transactions. The amount was transferred to two accounts each at Central Bank of India and Royal Bank of Scotland. Both banks have been ordered to pay Rs 8 lakh each to the complainant.
