A server of the Cosmo Cooperative Bank in the city of Pune in Maharashtra was reportedly hacked and more than Rs 94 crore was allegedly transferred to bank accounts outside the country, The Indian Express reported on Tuesday.
The police in Pune have filed a First Information Report against an unidentified person and a Hong Kong-based company based on a complaint filed by the bank’s officials, ANI reported.
Cosmos Bank Chairman Milind Kale said, “Using 450 International Visa debit cards, 12,000 transactions took place in 2 hours 13 minutes from ATMs and other locations across 21 countries on Saturday. It is a big criminal racket,” according to ANI.
“In India, 2,800 false transactions of Rs 2.5 crore using 400 debit cards took place,” he added. “No customer account affected, dummy cards were used and switching system of the bank was hacked.”
Bank officials said they suspect a malware attack on a server located at the bank’s headquarters on Ganeshkhind Road in Pune, The Indian Express reported, quoting from the FIR. An unidentified official said Rs 80.5 crore was first transferred to a foreign bank through 14,849 debit card transactions on August 11, and another Rs 13.9 crore was transferred through a SWIFT transaction two days later.
The second transaction was allegedly made to the account of ALM Trading Limited at Hang Seng Bank in Hong Kong, News 18 reported. According to the FIR, information of thousands of debit cards were stolen during the malware attack.
A team from the Chatushrungi police station in Pune and the cyber crime cell have launched an investigation.
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!