RBI cautions public against fake e-mails promising gains

New Delhi, Nov 10: RBI has cautioned the public against fictitious e-mails sent in the names of the central bank and Governor Raghuram Rajan promising windfall gains, saying it does not send out such communications.

The bank has run awareness campaigns about fake e-mails on a regular basis through its website and other media, an RBI spokesperson said, responding to a query on e-mails, purportedly from Governor Rajan, promising high returns or jackpot wins.

Rajan took over as the 23rd Governor of the RBI on September 4, replacing D Subbarao. A few months ago, there was a scam involving the impersonation of former RBI Governor Subbarao. E-mails purportedly sent by the RBI offering to transfer USD 12 million to the receiver's personal account were in circulation.

In one of its latest awareness drives, the RBI had said, "It has come to the notice that an e-mail has been sent in its name from mail id: Reserve Bank Of India and signed by RBI, Security Team offering a 'new online security protection' called netsecured to reduce fraud and theft in various banking system."

The central bank cautioned the public that it had not developed any such software, nor had it sent any such mail asking online banking customers to update their account details to secure them. The RBI does not have any mail id with the extension @rbi.com.

The central bank said such mails should not be opened and neither should attachments be downloaded as it could result in identity theft.

PTI