Investigating credit card fraud case is illustrated by a sample case study.
Credit cards are commonly being used for online booking of airline and railway tickets and for other ecommerce transactions. Although most of ecommerce websites have implemented strong security measures (such as SSL, secure web servers etc), instances of credit card frauds are increasing.
The victim’s credit card information is stolen and misused for making online purchases (e.g. airline tickets, software, subscription to pornographic websites etc).
Modus Operandi
Scenario 1: The suspect would install keyloggers in public computers (such as cyber cafes, airport lounges etc) or the computers of the victim. Unsuspecting victims would use these infected computers to make online transactions. The credit card information of the victim would be emailed to the suspect.
Scenario 2: Petrol pump attendants, workers at retail outlets, hotel waiters etc note down information of the credit cards used for making payment at these establishments. This information is sold to criminal gangs that misuse it for online frauds.
Applicable Law
Sections 43 and 66 of Information Technology Act and section 420 of Indian Penal Code.
All persons who have stolen the credit card information as well as those who have misused it, are liable. They had the motive of illegal financial gain.
