Identity Theft - Credit Card Fraud

Hello,

This is a very serious issue that I faced and I am still under mental trauma and dont know how to deal with it. I want to report about an Incident of Fraud and Identity theft that happened with me. The fraudulent activity was done with my Airtel Mobile Number and Citibank Credit Card via Standard Chartered Bank Credit Card Application Form.

In the first week of August, I was getting calls from Standard Chartered Bank for Credit Card Application saying that the Bank is offering Credit card on behalf of my relationship with Citibank. Since, I hold a credit card of Citibank, based on this, the executive told me that Standard Chartered Bank would issue me a Standard Chartered Manhattan Credit Card with good Credit limit.

I declined for the card still he kept up calling me for the card. I finally agreed and asked him to send his executive at my office. He didnt send the executive to my office. He again called me up after a week and said that he is sending the executive to my office. I asked him to send the executive at my home and I would sign the application form and provide him with the required documents.

The executive came at my place and I checked his identity proof before letting inside house and then gave him the required documents as mentioned by the calling agent. I also signed the Credit Card Application Form and gave him my Citibank Credit Card for a Pencil Impression. The documents given by me with the application were as follows:

a. Photocopy of Voter ID Card duly signed

b. Photocopy of Front side of Citibank Credit Card duly signed

c. A print out of July month�s Citibank Credit Card Statement duly signed

d. A Photograph

e. My Company Business Card as address proof for Card delivery

f. With all these documents, he also took a pencil impression of the Citibank Gold Credit Card on the Standard Chartered Bank Credit Card Application Form.

Signatures on the Form and some basic details like my full name, Date of Birth, mother�s name to be filled in application form. He then left.

On 14th Aug, I got a call from executive to verify my details. He confirmed all the details and then said that I would get a card in 15 days time frame.

On 18th August, at 7:35AM, I checked my mobile and realized that Network was not working and there was a message display �Sim Card Registration Failed�. I tried to switch off the mobile and Switch on several times. It didn�t work. I also tried on another mobile, it didnt work. I called up Airtel to get a response that I have lost my SIM and the one I am using is not mine. I argued with the executive and spoke to Supervisor, who said that there has been a duplicate SIM issued from one of their Airtel Outlets. No Idea how?

I recieved an email on 18th Aug 2009, at 4:30PM with a notification that my demographic details has been changed and a new TPIN has been generated on Citibank - Bank by phone. I called up Bank immediately (at 4:30PM) and notified that I never advised bank to make any change in my demographic details and it appears to have changed. The bank staff confirmed my details and blocked the card. Upon my query, she advised that there has been no transaction on the card in that time frame. I asked her to give me the details that were updated in Credit Card account, so that I can file a case or notify the same to police and get an investigation done. Citibank staff advised me that, bank has an investigation agency who would themselves conduct an investigation and would notify me after a week time to provide me the details and outcome of their investigation. I didnt recieve any notification from bank.

On 2nd Sep, I logged in CitiBank Online through my Internet ID adn sent a request to Helpdesk with a query for details that were supposed to be provided to me. Also, I enquired if a new credit card can be issued. For this email, I got a reply that Query under resolution.

On 11th Sep, I logged in Citibank Online for Bill payment. I got surprised to see an additional credit card being reflected on the account. Surprisingly, I never recieved any such credit card from the bank. I immediately called up bank by phone and notified them for the whole scenario. The staff transfered the call to a senior person who blocked the card and told me to call up to their Fraud Investigation Team for informing the whole scenrio. Upon query she advised me to provide all the details along with Police Report. I quoted her all the reference number for which she said that the investigating team would only do any study and she also confirmed that the card has not been delivered to any address and so she is recalling the card frob BlueDart. She gave me no reference number for this.

To my surprise there was a transaction of Rs 165000/- from Citibank Credit card to purchase some kind of Product from ICICI Prudential on 18th Aug at 11:21AM and by 4:30PM when i called up bank the executive said that there was no such transaction. I couldnt notify the same to Police but then on 14th Sep, I sent the details to DCP, Crime Branch.

I also notified this to bank and asked about the written consent that should have been taken from me before this transaction activation. Bank advised me that they would respond only after investigation.

Meanwhil, I followed up with ICICI Prudential who took my credit card details and promised to get back to me by 21st September. I also sent a mail to ICICI Prulife for support and reversal of the money to whatsoever policy it has been transacted to. Waiting for their reply...No idea what they are going to do?

Airtel said that they issue a SIM to any one carrying a ID Proof photocopy and an authorisation Letter. Where is the security of a customer?

Citibank is still investigating and not talking to merchandiser for a stop payment to Policy holder in any case? Citibank executive also didnt provide right information on 18th aug for the fraudulent transaction. Had she notified, there could have been some action with ICICI on urgent basis to get a reversal. Also, they removed my card details from online view and never corrected my details in their database, despite an update, which brought in a risk of information flow to the culprits. What should I do? the credit card is linked to my salary account and Citibank is not at all supporting.

Standard Chartered just advised me to file a case against no one.

ICICI Prudential is still investigating.