.
.
It happened again. Today too I received the following SMS message on my mobile:
Indian Bank – Weekend Info: Balance in your a/c XXXXXX0216 as on 09/02/2013: Total Bal. RS.14035 CR, Clear Bal
Sender: LM-INDBANK
Message Centre:
+919821900043
Sent: 10-Feb-2013 11:09:53
Now like clockwork I have received the above SMS message for the third consecutive Sunday.
Indian Bank – Weekend Info: Balance in your a/c XXXXXX0216 as on 16/02/2013: Total Bal. RS.14035 CR, Clear Bal
Sender: VM-INDBANK
Message Centre:
+919820405560
Sent: 17-Feb-2013 11:23:17
Indian Bank – Weekend Info: Balance in your a/c XXXXXX0216 as on 23/02/2013: Total Bal. RS.14035 CR, Clear Bal
Sender: VM-INDBANK
Message Centre:
+919820405560
Sent: 24-Feb-2013 10:23:08
I do not have any type of account in any branches of the Indian Bank.
I purchased a brand new SIM card from Vodafone only on February 7, 2013.
The sender has piqued my curiosity and I wonder whether the letters ‘CR; in the phrase “Total Bal. RS.14035 CR” mean ‘Credit’ or ‘Crore’ (10 million).
Any comments?
.
February 25, 2013
Today (Monday) I received the following message:
Your A/c No XXXX30216 is not operated for last 2 years. Please visit our branch and do transaction. Please co-operate & get uninterrupted service – Indian Bank
Sender: VM-INDBANK
Message Centre:
+919820405560
Sent: 25-Feb-2013 11:41:12
When I dialed the number 9820405560, the recorded message said: “You seem to have dialed the wrong number. Please check the number you have dialed,” followed by the text message “Number not in use.” So, I dialed 9821900043 the phone number found on the first message I received on February 9, 2013. This number too is a dud.
My sixth sense tells me this might be the early stages of blossoming of an elaborate scam.
.
February 28, 2013
Today I received a different message – ‘a security Alert’ purported to be from Indian Bank:
Security Alert: Don’t leave your Credit/Debit Card with anyone. Maintain secrecy of your User-Id & password; don’t disclose to anyone. Don’t click on links given in emails asking for above details.— Indian Bank
Sender: VM-INDBANK
Message Centre:
+919820405560
Sent: 28-Feb-2013 11:29:59
.
March 3, 2013
Today too I received the recurring message:
Indian Bank – Weekend Info: Balance in your a/c XXXXXX0216 as on 02/03/2013: Total Bal. RS.14035 CR, Clear Bal
Sender: LM-INDBANK
Message Centre:
+919820405560
Sent: 3-Mar-2013 06:53:05
Today too I dialed the number 9820405560 and heard a different recorded message: “Your call could not be completed.”
seldomblogger, a fellow blogger commented:
“Wow…yes it seems so..glad you found out..looks to be a phishing attempt or could be worse“
I agree completely with her observation.
Any comments?
.
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Impressions 
instead of creating a mess of a simple situation.
just read this as ” someone gave you number by error” or your number once belonged to that someone (period).
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I also received a series of messages from “BOI” earlier this year (2014). I ran into your blog while doing a search regarding this spam scam. It is good to know that others are also facing this problem; I was mystified and confused until now.
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I have received a similar sms from +919820405560 which says : *BOI*STAR SANDESH* Rs. 1000 has been debited to your account XXXXXXXXX9941 from ATM on 30-01-2014. Available balance Rs. 500. (received on 26 Jan which was a Sunday). Another one received on 30th Jan saying 500 debited and balance is 0 !
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Hello Varma,
I am curious. Do you have a Bank account XXXXXXXXX9941?
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CR. means currently. SBI has the same when they print it on the passbook.
The problem is that services do not verify the number viz. used to filled up a form for anything: banks, telephone bills, etc. Similarly, they need to verify the email address as well. Unlike citizenship and address proof where you submit 1-2 documents, there’s nothing for numbers or email address? They need to have a system where the bank sends a number to the phone number filled up on a form with a message that they need to send a particular code to a particular number to confirm if this number belongs to the person who have signed up for whatever they’re getting the message from. If its not yours, just ignore and you will not get any message. If its yours, do the needful! For email, same! Or else they can log in to their new account or something via internet banking to confirm it.
But then again, even if TRAI implements some rule similar to this, everyone takes their time to make an effective implementation.
My mom gets it but she always gets called as well. She’s using Vodafone number but its not a new number. I also don’t write numbers on courier guy’s papers or else I give them a number that I don’t use it much at all and pretty sure I use it to give it only to the courier guys.
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Hello Sorcerer,
I thank you for visiting my website and also for your clear comments. Now, what do you suggest that I should do to stop this flow of Sunday SMS messages.
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I am not sure. I think telecom operators have a system where they can block a number, however I am not sure if they’ll charge for it. Besides they can call you in any other number.
If you think your issue is bad, see this: http://broadbandforum.co/topic/63216-consumer-court-or-fir/
This is how bad things are and since people wish to avoid such calls, they sign up with someone else. I think its about time people in mass send emails to TRAI so that it acts as a pressure to do something about it- OR – you could go to one of their branch and see if they have something internal to fix it. Its best if you click pictures of the messages and put them on the article, then tell the branch manager that you’ve posted this on a site and maybe he’ll check it out.
Do note: I’ve used the words “if” so you’ll just have to try and see how it goes..
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Thanks for the info. I am not encumbered in any way by these messages that I received for the past three Sundays. It is only a minor annoyance. So, I’ll just forget the issue, for the moment, and see for how long these messages keep on coming to my mobile.
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have you tried calling the number? it seems more like a data entry mistake involving your number.
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Hi seldomblogger,
Yes, I too think it might be a data entry mistake involving my mobile number. Since, I do not have any type of account with the Indian Bank I am not bothered. I just do not wish to call them. I just want to know for how long they will keep on sending me this message and that too only on Sundays.
🙂
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Today (Monday) I called the number 9820405560 and the recorded message said: “You seem to have dialed the wrong number. Please check the number you have dialed,” followed by the text message “Number not in use.” So, I dialed 9821900043 the phone number found on the first message I received on February 9, 2013. This number too is a dud.
My sixth sense tells me this might be the early stages of blossoming of an elaborate scam.
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Wow…yes it seems so..glad you found out..looks to be a phishing attempt or could be worse
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