Apr
2010
The high-tech credit card skimming racket.
The scheme of the skimmer caught off guard.
A nondescript house in Picnic Garden, a lower-middle class neighbourhood in South Kolkata, was the hub of a high-tech counterfeit credit card manufacturing racket that had its tentacles in several countries. For the first time in India, Kolkata Police managed to bust this high-tech credit card skimming racket that has already left many people broke and banks bleeding.
On March 8, 2010, Monday, the Kolkata Police Detective Department officers were amazed by the sophistication of the operation when they raided the hideout and arrested Nigerian Benson Oladetan Adams and a woman, Leeanna Jordasn. Twenty-five-year-old Adams turned out to be a footballer who has played second-division in Bengal. And Leeanna was found to be a Kolkatan, married to the alleged kingpin of the racket, Nigerian Benson Oladetan Adams, who was arrested from Kolkata airport on Sunday, the 7th March night. Adams has been in Kolkata for past five years.
The detectives investigating the case said, the Nigerians ran such a high-tech ‘skimming’ operation that they had swindled over Rs 1 crore in just four months. The racket has been operating in India for at least five years, during which several crimes were detected in cities like Jaipur, Bangalore and Kolkata but they could never be tracked down.
According to the investigators, skimming is a highly specialized operation where the data on a card’s magnetic strip is electronically stolen and used to clone the card which is then used in another part of the world. In 2007, Kolkata Police had nabbed a Bangladeshi national with counterfeit cards but the kingpins remained elusive.
Kolkata Police’s Detective Department started a special operation three months ago when a private bank in Kolkata noticed a major forgery. “Within a week, they received 12 cases where credit cards of some foreign banks – which mainly operate in US and Europe – were swiped in India. The card holders were overseas and could prove that they had never used the cards in India. The Indian bank, whose Electronic Data Capturing (EDC) machine was used to swipe the fake cards, had to pay the amount. The bank realized it was a case of skimming and lodged a complaint with us”.
Starting virtually blind, the Anti-Bank fraud section started from ground zero – 
the payment counters. According to recent rules, and identity document is needed during a high value purchase. In all the cases, they had used fake driving licenses,” Police used the fake documents to work their way in and arrested two persons who had used fake cards to purchase some jewellery from a Central Avenue shop.
The duo led police to Ankit Shaw and Manish Agarwal – two Kolkata-based youths. “Both Ankit and Manish’s fathers are traders who have shops in central Kolkata,” said detective department chief Damayanti Sen.
Police realized that both youths were working as mere agents. To pin down the masterminds, they decided to watch Ankit and Manish rather than arrest them right away. The investigators found that the trail led to Benson Adams. “He arrived in Kolkata five years ago with a student visa and enrolled in Sikkim Manipal University. He even played for some second and third division clubs in Kolkata,” said Sen.
Police discovered that Adams was the racket’s top leader in Kolkata who used to make counterfeit cards with sophisticated electronic gadgets. “Adams engaged Ankit and Manish to use the counterfeit cards,”.
Till then, police had no clue how Adams was collecting the data of overseas card users. From Leeanna, police identified her Nigerian husband Peter Orendubi as another mastermind who used to collect the data from western countries.
On Sunday ( March 7 ) evening, Peter was rounded up from the airport by investigating officers, when he arrived from Nigeria. Soon after his arrest, police moved on the entire gang, picking up Leeanna, Adam, Ankit and Manish and unearthing the Picnic Garden production unit. On Monday, all of them were produced in a city court and remanded in police custody for 14 days.
In the past four months, Adam and his aides have swindled nearly a crore by using duplicate cards, say police. The bank that complained has lost around Rs 25 lakh.
How Skimming happens
Skimming is a hi-tech credit card forgery where the fraudsters steal the details embedded in the black magnetic strip of a card, including the unique CVV number, by using an electronic gadget. You may be standing at a hotel counter, watching your card being swiped, when someone nearby switches on the skimmer to steal your data. They then transfer the data and re-emboss it on another blank magnetic strip by using a data reader and writer. Finally, they paste the strip on another plastic card, emboss the logo and colour scheme of an actual card and set off shopping.
Skimming leaves you and the bank bleeding
Both the card holder and the financial institution whose Electronic Data Capture (EDC) machine was used to swipe a counterfeit card are the victims in a case of skimming When a fraudster buys something with a counterfeit card, the bill goes to the original card holder When a card is swiped on a bank’s EDC machine, it is this bank that will immediately pay the money to the shop/hotel etc. It can then claim the amount from the card-issuer But if the card holder can prove he did not make the transaction, the card issuer charges the bank whose EDC machine was used to swipe the counterfeit. An Indian private bank lost Rs 25 lakh in this way to skimming.
How racket worked
Nigerian Peter Orendubi used to collect stolen data from runners through e-mail and SMS He passed it down the chain to wife Leeanna and footballer Benson Oladetan Adams and others in Kolkata, Mumbai and Bangladesh Adams and people like him embossed the data on a blank card Several skimming cases have been detected in Jaipur, Chennai & Delhi. A few runners and local agents were nabbed, but big fish like Peter and Adams were always a step ahead.
sir when kolkata police si and sergeant measurement started
Dear Sudipta Sarkar,
Your query has been forwarded to the concerned department.
Regards,
Kolkata Cop
dear , sir my question is when will be the recruitment procedure( phisical measurment) starts for sergant and s.i post of kolkata police.and also i have another question and that is if one can selected for both s.i and sergant then on which post he would be selected if kolkata police recruitment board gave him choice or will be selected manually by kprb?
Dear Prasendeep,
Your queries have been forwarded to the concerned department. For any further queries u can mail on kprb.silsisgtcell@yahoo.com.
Regards,
Kolkata Cop
Sir, I want to know that any website for downloading the admit card for the PMT and PET for the post of constable in Kolkata Police .
Dear Arjun Ghosh,
Your queries have been forwarded to the concerned department. For any further queries mail to kprb.constable@yahoo.com and kprb.silsisgtcell@yahoo.com.
Regards,
Kolkata Cop
Sir, When will be started Physical Measurement and Efficiency Test the post of Constable in Kolkata police ?
Dear Arjun,
It is expected that PMT and PET for the post of constable in Kolkata Police will start during the first week of April 2012.
Regards,
Kolkata Cop
Sir,
Recently I found that there is trenad among a section of media to take the role of law enforcers. These media people forgets their role and try to put pressure on the policemen to bend to the demand of the complainanats even when they may lodge complain of MF nature.
I would request police to issue strong denial , like health department did to make the facts straight, and even to take strong legal action against the errant media.In some I even found a television channel showing names of accused persons who may abscond. Later these media people will put blame that police cannot arrest the accused , if real.
Sir I would like to remind police that interfering with police investigaton process , hampering their activity and helping the wrongdoers is also a criminal offence and media too should not be spared for such wrong doing. Sir such false news are only creating sensationalism and is rising due to inaction of police.
regards
Sir, I want to know that , any married lady can apply the post Lady Sub-Inspector.
Dear Arjun,
Married ladies can apply for the post of lady Sub Inspector.
Regards,
Kolkata Cop
Superb, what a website it is! This weblog gives valuable information to us, keep it up.
Sir,
I have a query regarding the recent notice that has been published for the recruitment of SI, & Sergeants in KP. I am a final year student of B.Tech(Electronics & Communication Engg.). I will be passing out by June 2012. My question is: Are the Final Year students of Graduation(i.e. appearing candidates) eligible to apply for this entry or not?
I have another question: Is there any possibility at present of recruitment to the post of Assistant Commissioner(Tech)?
Thank You!
Dear Avijit,
Only those who have completed graduation can apply. Regarding the recruitment for the post of Assistant Commissioner (Tech), advertisement will be made as per vacancy.
Regards,
Kolkata Cop
Hi, Thanks, for your help.
Sir, When will the post of Constable in Kolkata police recruitment publish in 2012? I am eagerly waiting for it.
Arjun Ghosh
It has already been published. You can find the details at http://www.kolkatapolice.gov.in.
Regards
Kolkata Cop
Hi, first of all thanks for Kolkata Police hearty who care the humanity and work for humanity.
Sir I much interested to join kolkata police because this is from my childhood dreams I am B. A pass so I want to know which post is applicable for this education, I want to know one more thing that is if some one harass me in my locality so which one is the first action we take against him example my landlord or area local people.
One more thing I like this blog very most because you wrote here all the thing what people want so very thanks for this.
Regards
Alamgir
Dear Alamgir
The advertisement for the recruitments for the post of Sergeant/ Sub Inspector/ Lady Sub Inspector, Constable & Police Driver has been published on 12/01/12. You can find the details in our website http://www.kolkatapolice.gov.in .
Regards
Kolkata Cop
Sir, When will the post of Constable in Kolkata police recruitment publish in 2011? I am eagerly waiting for it.
Dear Arjun,
The advertisement notice for recruitment of constables in Kolkata Police Force will be published in near future. Keep an eye on newspapers, you can also log on to our official website http://www.kolkatapolice.gov.in for latest update.
Regards,
Kolkata Cop
Dear Sir, I live at Garia and it is now undertaken by Kolkata Police and I am really happy to see that Kp is actively taking action against the persons who are breaking rules. I also want to join Kolkata police. I am an English Honours Graduate and working with Hardware and Networking career, but I don’t know how to apply for the recruitment or for which maximum higher post I can apply. I will be grateful, if I get the reply. Thanks again to Kolkata Police.
Dear Mr Sharma,
As a graduate, academically you are eligible to appear for the recruitment procedure for the posts of Constable and Sub Inspector & Sergeant of Kolkata Police. Different recruitment procedures are conducted as per requirement for these posts. Advertisements of recruitment are published in daily newspapers. You can also visit http://www.kolkatapolice.gov.in or http://www.pscwb.org.in for advertisements.
Wishing you all success in life,
Regards,
Kolkata Cop
dear sir,i am 25years old,i am egarly join kolkata police sergeant,i am 5.5ft.May i applicable for the post of kolkata police sergeant?
regards&thanking you
Dear Koushik,
Kindly go through the advertisements (when it will be published in newspapers). The minimum physical and academic standards will be mentioned there.
Regards,
Kolkata Cop
Respected Sir,
My name is Raj Roy and i am a post graduate (M.B.A) and with B.Com Hons in graduation. I am 6 feet and physically fit. My dad is a retd Army Officer.
My query is,
1> in order to join Kolkata police (Sergeant) do i need to read, speak and write in bengali? (since dad was in army so we used to get transfers and i didnt keep track of bengali language in detail so cant read and write)
2> i have been checking the website regularly but no update is there regarding recruitment in 2011 so is the recruitment direct or through any other exams also?
3> Can i opt for special branches once i get selected?
I eagerly await to join the force as an honest and able cop for my city.
Thanks and Regards,
Raj Roy
Dear Raj,
It is really interesting to know that youths like you are eager to join the police force and to serve the nation as a dedicated officer. Regarding your queries, one can give the exam for joining the force with Bengali/ Hindi/ Urdu/ Nepali as one of the compulsory papers. However, if recruited, one has to clear Bengali during the concerned training period if the individual had not taken Bengali during the recruitment exam. One can opt for the post of either Sub Inspector or a Sergeant. Recruitment news will be published in all the major dailies and will also be uploaded at http://www.kolkatapolice.gov.in.
Best Wishes,
Kolkata Cop
Sir, When will the post of S.I. or Seargeant in Kolkata police recruitment publish in 2011? I am waiting for it.
Dear Mr Panigrahi,
Kindly keep eyes on http://www.kolkatapolice.gov.in, our official website and vernaculars.
Regards,
Kolkata Cop
Sir, When will the post of S.I. or Seargeant in Kolkata police recruitment publish in 2011? I am eagerly waiting for it.
Dear Abhishake,
We will let you know the information through this blog site. Please keep posted.
Thanks,
Kolkata Cop
May I know Official of Kolkata Police Traffic Warden gets any salary or not?,or it is only a volunteer force.
Dear Dipanjan,
We request you to kindly log on to the mentioned link for all the detailed informations relating to your queries. The link is http://www.kolkatatrafficpolice.org/traffic_wardens.html
Best Wishes,
Kolkata Cop
Sir, When will the post of S.I. or Seargeant in Kolkata police recruitment publish in 2011? I am eagerly waiting for it.
Dear Soumen,
At present there is no news of direct recruitment of S.I/Sgt in Kolkata Police Force. Notice will be published in leading newspapers in due course.
Regards,
Kolkata Cop
Sir, i would like to draw your attention to a problem that is harassing many people. Recently I went to south 24 parganas district judges court . I was asked by the KP personnnel on duty not to enter inside the court with a bag. I asked him it’s ok ,but where to keep it. He could not give any solution. Meanwhile another KP official came and asked to comply the order in a very rude tone. I failed him to make understand the problem and he abused me.Now after enquiring I found that court ordered no to allow any person with a bag. same in high court. But the question is where a visitor will keep his hand bag securely ? Why the judges/KP issue such irrational order to harass common people when they have basic infrastructural flaw. I hope our security keepers should not request us one day to come without dress as some thing can be hidden in it. Sadly I found that few people carried bags inside the chambers of the court’s seniormost officials. Plz stop this harassment and dual policy for common people and privilged .Hope KP will take up with proper judicial authorities about this problem.
Dear Mr. Bhattacharjee,
We sympathize with you genuinely for the harassment that you faced at the District Judges’ Court. However, let us clarify that at the present scenario, security is our foremost concern, and so we are uncompromising on this issue. Your suggestions are relevant and most welcome, but you must understand that any lack of security may cause us with irreparable losses . We completely understand the inconvenience faced by you and we will definitely sent your suggestions to the department concerned. The fact that one of policemen was rude and used abuses is a sad event. We apologize to you for that.
Regards,
Kolkata Cop
Dear Sir,
First of all I want to say thanks to the trafic, investigation,Law and order and STF department of KP for their recent commendable works.Please keep doing good works.
Is there any limitation for a bus to take number of passengers for a single trip to any destination within and outside the jurisdiction of KP? If it is violated whom should we complain?
Kolkata High Court has ordered West Bengal Govt. to take up candidates from the list of constables as it was urgently felt by the honourable court.Like this Is there any info about recruitment of sI in West Bengal Police from Kolkata Police`s 2009 batch list?
Where should I contact to know any thing regarding this matter?
Thanks and Regards,
Sourav Bhattacharjee.
Dear Sourav,
Thanks for the recognition. As per Sec 192 of Motor Vehicles Act, a vehicle can carry no more than it is mentioned in its registration certificate or blue book. You can complain to police or Motor Vehicle Dept. You can also lodge your complaint at our traffic police website at http://www.kolkatatrafficpolice.org.
Regarding your query about recruitment procedure, as we have mentioned to you earlier, you need to follow http://www.kolkatapolice.gov.in for the recruitment information of Kolkata Police. Regarding the recruitment in West Bengal Police, you may contact the concerned department of West Bengal Police. The official web address of West Bengal police is http://www.policewb.gov.in.
Regards,
Kolkata Cop
I want Kolkata Police to take action against the people who are careless abt their pets and leave them open and create danger to the society.Despite repeated request they dont bother to listen and want each and everyone of the society to love their pets as well.I want some Penalty system for these unsocial category of people.In our Housing complex also we are facing a daily problem because of a particular person and his dogs.I want some positive action to be taken from KP side in order to ensure our safely like all other aspects which are well taken care of.
Dear Debomita,
We would request you to kindly lodge an official complaint at your local police station, for us to take the necessary actions. We assure you to do our best in this respect.
Thanks,
Kolkata Cop
Every where Kolkata police is commenting that HELMETS must for 2 wheelers, but I find that this all farse, as i find that at the crossing of Rashbehari Avenue & SP Mukerjee Road EVERY DAY at about 7.30 PM plenty of police personnel with traffic sergents are posted, but inspite of the same 2 wheelers at break neck speed with the HELMETS worn passes and the police personnel turns BLIND EYE.
Another most glaing fact is that at this crossing busses of different routes just dodge past one another but here also the police personnel turns BLIND EYE.
You are take proper steps for stopping such things
Dear Amitava,
Thank you for pointing out the deviations from traffic rules. We will definitely take due note of such observations and an alert has already been sent to the concerned department. Your suggestions are valuable to us.
Regards,
Kolkata Cop
Dear Sir, I drive car for about 20 years. Traffic has grown tremendously during the last couple of years, also sound pollution grown significantly. I have seen people honking just like that. I have observed people blow horn due to the reasons – (1)They are not confident in driving. (2)Temptation of Zig Zag movement tends people to blow horn (3) Just for fun (having multiple “Jalwa” horns, especially in Taxis). The funniest thing is that, we promote writing at the back of vehicles “Blow Horn”. If you look closely, will find due to misuse of horn, people are immune of honking. Have we not made people indiscipline by such act ?I feel pity on those dutiful police personnel, who stand for hours under such sound pollution apart from severe air pollution. I am certainly not in favor of imposition of fine and penalty for the sake of administration, but under the condition would suggest if you can come up with the following – (1) Paste of sticker at the back of car mentioning “ NO HORN UNLESS EMERGENCY”. (2) Mass campaign to use horn only in emergent conditions.(3)Penalize by way of Rs.100/- as fine for blowing horn when not warranted. I am sure you and we will definitely able to provide some peace to the city and some relief to every human ear. I also do hope my humble suggestion shall be considered with right spirit and merit. China Banned horn see here, why can’t we ? http://www.gokunming.com/en/blog/item/471/kunming_bans_car_horns_downtown
Regards
Dear Sen,
Thanks for your inputs. Necessary prosecution are done regularly against excessive horn and blowing horn in no-honking zones. However, the fact remains that, only prosecution will hardly drive away the menace. The order of the day is ‘AWARENESS’. We are trying to spread awareness among the citizen, and NGOs like ‘Public’ are playing an important role.
It’s heartening to receive such inputs and definitely your suggestions will be taken into consideration in our schemes.
Thanks again!
Regards,
Kolkata Cop
Sir,
Last year The Telegraph carried an interview of additional commissioner of Kolkata Police Mr Banibrata Basu ( 22 JUNE 2009 ), wherein it was indicated that Behala would soon have BEHALA TRAFFIC GUARD from Kolkata Police which willl cover Behala and Regent Park area.
Any development on the same ?
Regards,
Arya Ghosh
Behala
Dear Arya,
The matter is still under consideration stage.
Regards,
Kolkata Cop
can u tell me who is the new DCDD (I) after Smt D Sen ?
Dear Mr Singh,
The post of D.C D.D (1) has been upgraded to Jt C.P (Crime).
Regards,
Kolkata Cop
Excellent work on this garden article. It makes for an interesting and thoughtful read. Keep up the quality writing.
This is such a great resource that you are providing and you give it away for free. I enjoy seeing websites that understand the value of providing a prime resource for free. I truly loved reading your post. Thanks!
i saw in today’s newspaper advt that you want to take Traffic warden and we have to collect a form to apply.But is it possible for you to have that Form on your website or here so that we can download and print.
Dear Mr. Roy Choudhury
There was a link for download of the application form for Traffic warden at Kolkata Traffic Police Website but the Website is at present under repair. So, it is not possible to collect the form directly from website right now. It will be available in due course. But meanwhile, you can contact the office of DC TP directly.
Regards,
Kolkata Cop.
RESPECTED SIR,
KOLKATA POLICE,IN A JOINT INITIATIVE WITH ROTARY INTERNATIONAL, HAVE LAUNCHED TWELVE AMBULANCES FOR FERRYING PATIENTS TO HOSPITAL.THIS IS A REALLY COMMENDABLE VENTURE ON THE PART OF KOLKATA POLICE.WE HOPE THAT WITH THIS SERVICE WE WON’T HAVE TO SEE ANY ILL PERSONS LYING ON ROAD OR ELSEWHERE AND DYING DUE TO LACK OF TREATMENT.
HERE I SHOULD MENTION THAT YOU NEED TO HIGHLIGHT ON TELEVISION AND OTHER MASS MEDIA THE CONTACT NUMBERS REGARDING THIS AMBULANCE SERVICE.IT WILL BE HELPFUL TO THE PEOPLE OF KOLKATA AS WITH CONTACT NUMBERS IN HAND,THEY WILL BE ABLE TO CALL THE AMBULANCE IN NEED.
ANOTHER MATTER,THAT I WOULD LIKE TO BRING TO YOUR NOTICE,IS THAT WE THINK THE POLICEMEN GUARDING THE ENTRY AND EXIT POINTS OF LALBAZAR SHOULD BE ARMED WITH AUTOMATED WEAPONS.LALBAZAR IS OUR HERITAGE AND IF AN TERRORIST ATTACK HAPPENS HERE,WE EXPECT THAT OUR POLICEMEN CAN BOUNCE BACK AND FIGHT HARD.I PERSONALLY THINK THERE SHOULD BE BUNKERS AT THE GATE LIKE THE ONES IN FRONT OF THE AMERICAN CENTRE.
HOPE YOU WILL REGARD MY SUGGESTIONS.
THANKING YOU,
DEBASHREE AHIRI
Dear Debashree,
We appreciate your concern regarding the security of Lalbazar. Adequate steps have been taken on security issues in and around Lalbazar and necessary Security review is being conducted on regular basis. More over in case of any security threat additional measures are taken. Your concern and suggestions regarding the Trauma Care ambulances is being forwarded to the concerned senior officer.
Regards,
Kolkata Cop
This is such a great resource that you are providing and you give it away for free. I enjoy seeing websites that understand the value of providing a prime resource for free. I truly loved reading your post. Thanks!