Citibank sees maximum number of card fraud

Citibank has witnessed maximum 92 cases of cloning of debit/credit cards or use of fake cards involving over Rs. 1.89 crore (Rs. 18.9 million) from 2007-08 to December 2010.

"Largest number of such frauds belong to Citibank from 2007-08 to December 2010...RBI's committee has suggested a number of steps including replacing the magnetic strip on cards by a chip. All these aspects are being looked into," Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said in Lok Sabha during Question Hour.

Compensation to the victims, who lost money in these frauds, is another aspect which is being looked into by the banks.

Besides Citibank, other banks which reported such frauds are one each by Syndicate Bank, Standard Chartered, Punjab National Bank and Canara Bank in 2010 involving a total amount of less than Rs. 23 lakh.

Bank of India reported one case of fraud in 2007-08, but the amount involved was huge at over Rs. 1.92 crore (Rs. 19.2 million).

Mukherjee said the Committee, headed by Executive Director, RBI has given various suggestions and a decision would be taken soon in this regard.

Besdies, the RBI has also issued a series of instructions relating to Know Your Customer (KYC) to the banks so that identification could be authenticated before issuing a debit or credit card, he said.

He said criminal investigations have also started against people involved in such frauds.

The RBI has issued a Master Circular on "Credit Card Operations of banks" recently advising banks to set up internal control systems to combat frauds and to take pro-active fraud control and enforcement measures, Mukherjee said in his reply.

The Central bank has also advised banks to ensure that credit card operations were run on "sound, prudent and profitable" lines and fulfil "Know Your Customer" requirements, assess credit risk of customers, specify terms and conditions in clear and simple language and ensure prompt dispatch of bills.