Former Union Minister and prominent Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader, Dayanidhi Maran, has reported falling victim to a net banking fraud amounting to ₹99,999. Maran took to social media on October 10 to share the details of the incident, expressing his concerns about the security lapses that allowed the fraud to occur.
According to Maran, the fraudulent transfer of ₹99,999 took place from his Axis Bank personal savings account via a net banking transaction involving “IDFC First Bank-Billdesk.” Crucially, Maran stressed that he did not initiate this transaction, and it bypassed all standard safety protocols. Notably, no OTP (One-Time Password), which is typically required for such transactions, was generated or received on the mobile number linked to his bank account.
Maran’s revelation becomes even more alarming as he disclosed that instead of an OTP, a call was made to the joint holder of the account, which is his wife’s number. The fraudsters posed as bank representatives but had the Twitter handle “@cbic_india” displayed. Recognizing the suspicious nature of the call, Maran immediately took action to block all activities on his account.
Expressing his astonishment, Maran questioned how the fraudsters had obtained his personal information and successfully breached security protocols with apparent ease. He clarified that this was not a phishing attack, and he did not divulge any sensitive details.
Dayanidhi Maran also expressed his frustration with Axis Bank, stating that they were unable to explain how the attack had occurred and why the OTP was not required from his registered mobile number for the transaction.
Drawing attention to the broader implications of such incidents, Maran emphasized that if someone with his level of tech awareness and caution with private data could be targeted, it raises concerns about the vulnerability of first-time digital users and senior citizens.
Citing statistics from The Hindustan Times, Maran pointed out that financial fraud accounted for a significant 75 percent of cybercrimes in India from January 2020 to June 2023. He highlighted that reports of sensitive Aadhaar data being sold had emerged as early as 2018, and data breaches and ransomware attacks on banks had become increasingly common.
Dayanidhi Maran’s public revelation of being defrauded through a net banking scam shines a spotlight on the growing issue of cybercrimes and data breaches in India. His call for greater security measures, accountability, and protection of private data is timely, given the increasing digitalization of financial transactions. Maran’s experience underscores the urgency of addressing these security concerns and implementing robust measures to safeguard individuals’ financial and personal information.
