[Resolved]  Vodafone Essar India Limited — Postpaid SIM blockage and issue of new SIM without my consent

Address:

Rangareddy, Andhra Pradesh

I have been using Vodafone postpaid connection with mobile number +91 [protected] and SIM No.[protected] from August 2010. Vodafone has blocked my SIM and issued new SIM[protected]-1) with same mobile number on my name to the stranger who has provided fake details (documents are enclosed) in Anantapur on 20/10/2011. The culprit has hacked my online State Bank of India (SBI) internet banking (account number [protected]) user name and password. The culprit has used newly issued SIM (my mobile number) to transfer Rs 3,14,000 (three lakhs fourteen thousand rupees ) fraudulently to another account (to Mr. Gajanan Jalinder Patel with account number [protected]) of the SBI, Chembur branch.

To transfer money from one account to another account through online SBI, a third party has to be added. In order to add new party, the security code sent by SBI to the mobile is needed. Without this security code it is not possible to add new party. The newly added party gets approved or activated within 24 hours of adding party. In between, SBI intimates to the account holder through the messages (SMS) to the mobile number that new party has been added. To transfer money to this activated account, the security code sent by SBI to the mobile is required to approve the transaction.

Vodafone management is mainly responsible for the loss incurred to me. Without the mobile number, culprit couldn’t not have been transferred the money. The details (enclosed in attachment) furnished at Anantapur Vodafone store are not coinciding with the original details submitted by me when I have taken postpaid connection. Without matching details, Vodafone executive has blocked my SIM and issued new SIM to the culprit. Had concerned Vodafone executive is a bit careful by looking into the fake details provided by the culprit, this loss would not have occurred to me. The details provided in fake BHEL’s letter pad are matching with the address present on the Vodafone billing address. Based on this, I suspect that the Vodafone executive might also be involved in this fraud.

This incident has happened on the preceding day of my marriage. I thought o[censored]sing that money for my marriage expenses. I was shocked and devastated to know that I had only mere Rs.166 in my account. The mental agony which I have undergone was horrible. I had to ask other people to lend money for my marriage expenses. As soon as marriage is over, I traveled back from my home to Hyderabad to know what has been happened.

I understood that this fraud is mainly because of negligence of Vodafone authorities. Immediately I have contacted Vodafone nodal office, Begumpet and explained about the fraud. The response given by them was much below satisfactory. After so many calls and meetings, finally they checked with concerned people and agreed that mistake had happened in Anantpur Vodafone store and suggested me to go legally.