Banks recall 3.2 mn debit cards as data security 'compromised'

October 20, 2016 21:04

In biggest-ever security breach affecting the Indian banking sector, 32 lakh debit cards of various public and private sector banks are feared to have been 'compromised' by cyber malware attack in some ATM systems, even as the government asked people not to panic.

Several banks, including state-run SBI, have recalled a large number of cards, while many others blocked the ones suspected to have been compromised and asked their customers to change PINs (personal identification number) before use.

Fraudulent withdrawals have been reported from 19 banks so far, while complaints have been received from few banks that their customers' cards were used fraudulently abroad, mainly in China and USA while customers were in India.

"All affected banks have been alerted by card networks that a total card base of about 3.2 million could have been possibly compromised. Out of this 0.6 million are RuPay cards," said National Payments Corporation of India, the umbrella body for all retail payments system in India.

In a statement, NPCI said the complaints of fraudulent withdrawals so far have come from 641 customers and the total amount involved is Rs 1.3 crore as reported by various affected banks.

Seeking to calm worried bank customers, the Department of Financial Services Additional Secretary G C Murmu told PTI, "Only about 0.5 per cent of total debit card details were compromised while remaining 99.5 cards are completely safe and bank customers should not panic."

« Back to LIVE

TOP STORIES

IAF chief advocates public-private collaboration to explore space potential

In his address, the air chief marshal underlined that with a massive surge of new technologies and opening up of space to private players, there is a "disruption in the established scheme of things".

'It was world-class batsmanship from Rahul and de Kock'

Lucknow Super Giants pacer Matt Henry was in awe of the "world-class batsmanship" of skipper KL Rahul and Quinton de Kock, saying the century-plus opening stand between the duo helped them outclass a "very good" Chennai Super Kings...

Fleming hails Dhoni's batting: 'It's inspirational!'

His brilliant form notwithstanding, Mahendra Singh Dhoni cannot be promoted in the batting order as his recovery from a knee injury has restricted his ability to wield the willow for long periods, said Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen...

Explosions rock pro-Iran military base in Iraq

However, the reason behind the explosions is not known as yet.

CSK Vs LSG: Who Bowled Best? Vote!

Krunal Pandya emerged as the wrecker-in-chief on Friday night.