Beware: Fake RBI website stealing bank details

NEW DELHI: The

Reserve Bank

of India or RBI on Thursday issued a notice cautioning the citizens about the fake websites created with a layout similar to the central bank's official website. One such website (www.indiareserveban.org), the Reserve Bank said, contains a provision for "Bank verification with online account holders" which appears to have been created with a fraudulent intent of obtaining personal and confidential banking details of customers of banks.

The fake website asks for the customer's ID, PIN, email address, phone number, bank name including others details. The website has many similarities with the original one including a blue motion ticker "FAQs for KYC and Mint Street Memos". Here's a look of this fake website:

"RBI does not hold any accounts for individuals and never asks for personal information such as bank account details, passwords, etc. The Reserve Bank cautions members of public that responding online on such websites could result in compromising crucial personal information that may be misused to cause financial and other loss to them," RBI further stated in its notification.

RBI also "cautioned about existence of websites such as www.rbi.org, www.rbi.in etc." which may appear similar to the website of RBI. However, these websites have no affiliation with the central bank, it added.

The official website of RBI is with the URL, www.rbi.org.in. The Reserve Bank has been consistently alerting customers about the fake websites, emails asking to transfer funds or for bank account details in the name of a lottery, fictitious job offers, etc fraudulently luring and cheating customers.