A case of international credit card fraud has been reported in Mumbai after the honorary consul of Maldives alleged misuse of his foreign-issued card for a transaction worth ₹4.59 lakh in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The incident reportedly took place in October 2025 while the consul was on a Delhi–Mumbai flight. The fraudulent transaction came to light after his wife received an email alert, following which she immediately informed the bank and requested that the card be blocked and the transaction stopped.
After landing, the consul contacted the bank and confirmed that the transaction was unauthorised. However, the complaint alleges that the bank failed to act promptly. The transaction was neither blocked in time nor flagged as suspicious. The bank later imposed finance charges and penalties on the disputed amount, which also affected the complainant’s CIBIL score.
Based on the complaint, Juhu police have registered a case against an unknown individual under charges of cheating, forgery, identity theft, and impersonation under the IT Act. The matter has been handed over to the cyber team, which is now seeking details from the bank to understand the delay in detecting the fraud.
Investigators may also question bank officials, as the complainant has raised concerns about possible internal involvement in the leak of his card details. He has argued that a high-value international transaction should have triggered verification checks, suggesting a serious lapse in security.
After multiple complaints, the bank reversed ₹2.29 lakh—around 50% of the total amount—after nearly 40 days. The remaining amount is still under dispute. The complainant has approached the Reserve Bank of India’s Ombudsman and the RBI Governor, stating that no satisfactory resolution has been provided.
He has further alleged that the bank attempted to shift liability onto him and warned of negative credit reporting if payment was not made.
Experts say such frauds can result from data breaches, phishing, or card skimming. Authorities are now investigating how the card data was compromised and whether a larger network is involved.
The case highlights ongoing challenges in detecting and preventing cross-border financial fraud, with further developments expected as the investigation continues.
Also read: Viksit Workforce for a Viksit Bharat
Do Follow: The Mainstream LinkedIn | The Mainstream Facebook | The Mainstream Youtube | The Mainstream Twitter
About us:
The Mainstream is a premier platform delivering the latest updates and informed perspectives across the technology business and cyber landscape. Built on research-driven, thought leadership and original intellectual property, The Mainstream also curates summits & conferences that convene decision makers to explore how technology reshapes industries and leadership. With a growing presence in India and globally across the Middle East, Africa, ASEAN, the USA, the UK and Australia, The Mainstream carries a vision to bring the latest happenings and insights to 8.2 billion people and to place technology at the centre of conversation for leaders navigating the future.
