This happens only in Japan, because they learn all this from a very early age itself.
7-2024 Beware of scam by SBI !
If you think that SBI is a big and respectable bank which you can trust, think again !
An official-looking email was received by me, from Customercare@sbicard.com on Mon, 16 Sep 2024 19:08:22 +0530
QUOTE
Dear Mr. Partha Biswas,
Thank you for writing to SBI Card.
xxxxxxxxx
SBI Card: We hereby inform you that as on date your FBB card has been converted into Gold n More Employee/Simply Save card, due to FBB card has been discontinue from last year. Further card ending with 68 is active for usage. Meanwhile it is the only card is active in our record, kindly re-write us if you persist the same issue. And do share your personal details with other person. xxxxxxxxxx We would like to take the opportunity to ask you to reconsider your decision to continue your relationship with us.
Also, we wish to inform you that as on date the total outstanding amount on your SBI card account is Rs.13,756.61/-. Also, you would continue to receive your statements, till we receive the total amount due on your card. xxxxxxxx
UNQUOTE
Notice the name of the person to whom this mail is addressed (and compare with my name). Notice that the claim comes to *me* by email, and not in any written form. Notice the poor English and linguistic flaws. Notice that no date or details are given for the amount claimed. Neither is there any mention of the card number. The surprising fact is that I have never needed or possessed any credit card. Neither is SBI capable of providing any substantiating / verifiable details.
SBI is either not capable of or is interested in providing the essential details I asked for. A consumer/customer has the right to know specific details about the service or product. On the other hand, SBI wants my “personal details” . It is a violation of Consumer Protection Law to deny information to a customer. Soon, I discovered a possible reason for this denial by SBI.
The mystery deepened when I visited the SBI credit card division to find out. They did a search for my credit card details using my PAN and discovered that there is no credit card (issued by any agency) in my name. This proves that Customercare@sbicard.com used a blatant lie, to extract non-existant “outstanding dues” for a non-existant credit card. I was saved from a potential scam, only because of my vigilance and quick reaction. This experience points to a criminal offense of cheating and attempted extortion by SBI. The person at the Help Desk at SBIcards was visibly irritated when I confronted him with the facts and supporting evidence (why do they call themselves a “help desk” ?). Mails and reminders to several persons in SBIcard.com only resulted in a game of “passing the buck”. They have still not accepted their crime or withdrawn their dishonest claim.
You think that after all this goof-ups, SBI would confess its negligence and apologise for its lapses ? Wrong again.
A simple Google search using the terms — SBI credit card scam, will throw up dozens of such SBI related scams. Do not fall into such traps/scams. Stay alert, stay safe. If similar incidences happen to you, make it known to as many people as you can, and alert them.
If you have anything to add, or any similar experience to share, let me know at drpartha@gmail.com
Anything can happen in SBI. Only relentless vigilance can save you !
Only your vigilance and alertness can save you from frauds and scams like this. There are several options to help you handle such situations e.g. RBI Banking Ombudsman, Police crime branch, Consumer Disputes Forum, Press and social-media, w-w-web etc. Never give up in your fight against injustice and fraud. Truth will succeed eventually. Liars and scamsters will suffer.
PS: The mails demanding “outstanding dues” stopped after I raised a hue and cry and publicised this scam. Proof of the dishonest claim by SBI. Shame on you SBI
6-2024 The Olympics of mathematics !
It’s Olympics time ! A six-member team of Indian students represented India at the International Mathematics Olympiad 2024. The team clocked four gold and one silver medal at the event which was held in Bath, United Kingdom between July 11 and July 22. The tally of the top 20 countries is given here. The highlight is a fairytale 4th Place for India. The Indian team consisted of : Aditya Mangudy Venkat Ganesh (Pune), Siddharth Chopra (Pune), Arjun Gupta (Delhi), Kanav Talwar (Greater Noida), Rushil Mathur (Mumbai), and Anando Bhaduri (Guwahati).
5-2024 How the clever culprit goes scot-free
How they created a worldwide stink
Jully 19, 2024 saw the world shaken up by a blunder whose epicentre was in Microsoft. Even several days after the gory incident, no one dared to pull up the original culprits. The escapade was made easy with some clever/cunning design by Microsoft, although no one notices the flaw in their own short-sighted decisions in choosing Microsoft products, which ALWAYS come with their “masterpiece of deception”: EULA.
- EULA is a kind of shield used to defend and protect the cunning culprit. The EULA, forced on every user of Microsoft products, is the first evidence of such a crooked mindset.
- EULA cleverly changes a vendor-user relationship to a licensor-licensee relationship. The user /licensee does not own the product, thus depriving him of all the usual user privileges. This is further complicated by the concept of “software as a service”, promoted by Microsoft.
- Thus the user gets no warranty on the product or any assurance of its expected flawlessness.
- EULA purports to supplant traditional consumer protection and products liability laws. Yet, users blindly strike the “I agree” button for all EULAs. This is akin to wrapping the noose around one’s own neck.
- The user has no way to claim any compensation for the damage, chaos or distress caused by the defective product. Neither can they initiate any legal action against the offending culprit, since they have “agreed” to all the terms of the EULA, before starting to use the product. The noose is already in place. You know what will follow next.
The crowd-strike disaster of 19 July 2024 was caused by an “update” to the anti-virus software of Windows10 of Microsoft. The remedy turned out to be deadlier than the disease, and the world paid for it.
Who are the real culprits ? The cunning vendor who planted the stink ? or the gullible users who chose this vendor ? The cancer will end, only when we stop patronising such cunning vendors.
***
4-2024 HBD, Alan Turing
Alan Turing, the legend who changed the way how humans live, was born today (23 June) in 1912 CE. The way he suffered and died, is another incredible saga of short-sighted British thinking. Let us remember and salute this unfortunate enigma (aka “the man who knew too much”).
See also :: Alan Turing is mine
and also see the man who knew too much
3-2024 How superstition wins over science
Recently, I came across a shameful example of how religion-based superstition, played a dirty game with one of the greatest mathematicians who was born (and died) in India. On the death of Ramanujan, there were less than a handful of people in his cremation, to bid him farewell. Their common excuse/alibi was that Ramanujan had crossed the oceans and on his return, he never performed the obligatory purification rituals. So they all thought that a curse would befall on all who participate in his cremation. Even the priest who was to perform the funeral rites, absconded from the scene. Ramanujan’s own wife/widow was absent because, according to Hindu custom, ladies cannot enter a cremation ground.
See:: Glimpses of Ramanujan
2-2024 Incompetence and dishonesty — A fatal cocktail by Airtel
Some time ago, I exposed Airtel for their incompetance and unprofessional behaviour . Now, I have
one more incident to report (in Tamil).
Stay away from this vendor, if you want some peace in life.
1-2024 Happy Ramadan
To all my muslim friends on the happy occasion of Ramadan/Ramzan ::
words of worship for everyday use.
10-2022 Request for MYM2 book
Take a look at the MYM2 website for more details about the MYM2 book. Fill out the form below, to get access to the pdf version of the MYM2 book.
You can also send us a direct email with all the details required.
9-2022 Once upon a time ……
Found something awesome in my Twitter time line today ::
Thanks to —
Harsh Goenka @hvgoenka
Once upon a time:
-Window was a gap in a wall
-Application was a request on paper
-Mouse was an animal
-Hard drive was an uncomfortable road trip
-Cut was done with scissors and paste with glue
-Web was a spider’s creation
That’s when we had a lot of time for friends and family!