Daijiworld Media Network - Chikkamagaluru (SP)

Chikkamagaluru, Oct 13: Bheemeshwar Joshi, trustee of Horanadu Goddess Annapooneshwari temple in the district, which has grown into one of the leading pilgrimage centres of the district, has got back Rs 20,98,259 which the fraudsters had swindled from his international debit card by hacking his account recently. The entire amount stands credited back to his account.

Joshi had undertaken tour of foreign nations between July 19 and August 5 this year. During his visits to places like London, Paris, Brussels, Switzerland, Italy, Austria etc, he had bought needy things by using international debit card of Karnataka Bank Ltd. During the period, the hackers had succeeded in making fraudulent transactions and taking away nearly Rs 21 lac from his account through internet banking. As Joshi did not regularly check his accounts and follow the messages, he came to know about this excess debit only on September 13.

Joshi, who approached the bank, came to know that the fraudsters had used deceptive methods to cheat him presumably by skimming his card. He then filed complaint with the police in the district headquarters. Within 29 days of the complaint, the entire amount stands credited back into Joshi's account. However, it is gathered that the police have continued with investigation.

An elated Joshi said that he got his money back on account of the blessings of Goddess Annapoorneshwari and systematic working of Karnataka Bank's board of directors and also its managing director, Mahabaleshwar Bhat.