Delhi Police recently nabbed five people for allegedly duping banks and credit card firms using fake government identities of celebrities like Abhishek Bachchan, Sachin Tendulkar, Shilpa Shetty, Madhuri Dixit, Emraan Hashmi and MS Dhoni. The gang allegedly obtained credit cards in the names of these celebrities and used them for their personal expenses, taking advantage of loopholes in the banking system and bypassing KYC norms.
The accused apparently obtained PAN details of several Bollywood actors and cricketers by using GST Identification Numbers (GSTINs) which are publicly available online. He then used this information to apply for a credit card through a Pune-based fintech startup called ‘OneCard’.
After the startup identified multiple attempts to issue credit cards using a single device, they informed the police. The accused had already spent over Rs 21 lakh on purchases, which the police tracked using technical surveillance and transaction details.
FPL Technologies Pvt Ltd, a Pune-based startup that issued contactless credit cards, claimed that fraudsters contacted them through their app and forged a credit limit based on bureau details stored by credit information companies like CIBIL. Uploaded PAN and Aadhaar Card.
Police have identified the five accused as Puneet, Mohd Asif, Sunil Kumar, Pankaj Mishra and Vishwa Bhaskar Sharma. It is suspected that the gang may have used similar modus operandi to obtain credit cards from other financial institutions.
The news highlights the need for robust online verification processes and fraud detection mechanisms in the banking and financial sector. It also underscores the importance of protecting personal identity and sensitive financial information.
FAQs
Q: Who were the victims of the credit card fraud recently busted by the Delhi Police?
A: The victims of the credit card fraud recently busted by the Delhi Police were several banks and credit card firms, as well as celebrities such as Abhishek Bachchan, Sachin Tendulkar, Shilpa Shetty, Madhuri Dixit, Emraan Hashmi and MS Dhoni.
Q: How did the fraudsters obtain the personal information of the celebrities?
A: The fraudsters reportedly obtained the personal information of the celebrities, including their PAN details, by accessing their publicly available GST Identification Numbers (GSTIN).
Q: What did the fintech startup ‘OneCard’ do when they identified the fraudulent activity?
A: The fintech startup ‘OneCard’ notified the police when their system generated a red flag due to multiple attempts to issue credit cards using a single device.
