Recently a case was filed to cybercrime regarding harassment call received from ICICI Bank executive. The incident took place in city of Uttar Pradesh. Top of it police didn’t even bother to call the victim when the complaint was filled.

Let’s know what had happened in the case. Victim complained that calls were made to the people to whom they had made any payment through UPI. This was highlighted when one of the known of victim claimed that they are receiving calls on their name and asking for money to be repaid in abusive manner. This pattern followed among 3-4 people. Immediately victim lodged complaint in Cyber Crime and given a written complain to nearest police station.

How this works?

When you apply for any loan or credit card you give consent to bank to retrieve your bank statement and details. In the bank details the payment made through UPI is shown and from there the bank or their recovery agency abstract the number and call them harass on your name and ask them to pay. These numbers are generally of your Dhobi, Maid, Relatives or Neighbours. This has been confirmed by a source who is running a Recovery Agency based in India, he claims that they get every confidential information of customers. They do multiple calls; they threaten you on the name of Advocates and Police. 

The executive of Bank called 4-5 neighbour of the victims. Evidence is also kept with victim.

While talking to a senior in banking industry, he said ” this is very common practice of private banks and credit borrowers don’t come up and complain against these issues.” 

There are many cases reported due these harassment and mental pressure people died by suicide. 

According to the RBI, customer confidentiality and the integrity of the credit card issuing company must be upheld by third-party agents during debt recovery. 

Neither card issuers nor their agents should invade the policyholder’s privacy or intimidate them.

It is clearly mentioned in the guidelines of RBI that banks can only call the borrower or visit their premises with consent. They cannot outreach any customer beyond Bank working hours and no messages or WhatsApp is allowed. Recent case also highlighted that victim received over 300 calls on WhatsApp in a single day and over 500 calls on phone in odd time. 

“It is understood that some banks set very stiff recovery targets or offer high incentives to recovery agents. These have, in turn, induced the recovery agents to use intimidatory and questionable methods for recovery of dues. Banks are, therefore, advised to ensure that the contracts with the recovery agents do not induce adoption of uncivilized, unlawful and questionable behaviour or recovery process.”

The victims and sources name has been kept confidential.