Banks lose Rs 6.6 cr to internet frauds

Banks across the country have lost Rs 6.57 crore to internet frauds in 233 incidents of cyber crime with Tamil Nadu topping the list last fiscal. Banks in that state have lost Rs 2.09 crore in seven cases reported between April and December 2008.Lending institutions in Maharashtra, which reported the highest number of 23 incidents, have lost Rs 55.54 lakh to online fraudulent practices, Minister of State for Home Shakeel Ahmad told the Lok Sabha today.Banks in Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal have lost Rs 89.93 lakh, Rs 64.29 lakh and Rs 35.72 lakh respectively while Kerala and Delhi lost Rs 17.60 and Rs 10.90 lakh owing to cyber frauds.Eleven cases of internet frauds were reported from Andhra Pradesh, eight from Delhi, seven from Tamil Nadu, six from Karnataka and five from West Bengal during the said period, the Minister said in a written reply.However, banks in Bihar, Goa and Jharkhand did not lose a single penny to such activities and no case was reported in any of these states.