The Centre has sought information on the data breach that has affected over 32 lakh debit cards.
“We have sought a report in the debit card issue. The idea is to contain the damage,” Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said here on Friday.
The Finance Ministry is understood to have asked the RBI and commercial banks to provide details on the data security breach as well as a report on their preparedness to deal with cyber crimes.
Meanwhile, earlier in the day, Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das also promised swift action and stressed that customers should not panic.
“Customers should not panic because these hackings are done through computer and the trail can easily be reached; they should not be alarmed. Whatever action has to be taken, it will be done with speed,” he said.
While the Finance Ministry has already received some preliminary inputs, it is awaiting further details.
The move comes after a major security breach that affected 19 banks, which had to recall or cancel over 32 lakh debit cards. Banks have also asked some customers whose cards were at risk to change their ATM PINs.
The 19 banks are understood to have received complaints from 641 customers regarding fraudulent withdrawals of ₹1.30 crore were in September.
‘Stick to our network’ PTI reports that SBI has advised its customers to use the bank’s own ATM network following the security breach.
“We are advising our customers to use SBI’s ATM network as a proactive measure. At the same time, the bank is aiming to replace around six lakh debit cards within two weeks,” Partha Pratim Sengupta, CGM of SBI Bengal circle, told reporters.
Meanwhile, the bank had blocked the debit cards whose security had been reportedly breached due to the malware attack, he added.