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Sangath, www.sangath.com, is looking to build a centre for services, training and research and seeks to buy approx 1500 to 2000 sq mtrs land betweeen Mapusa and Bambolim and surrounding rural areas. Please contact: [email protected] or [email protected] or ph+91-9881499458 http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2009-July/180028.html ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------- Do GOACAN a favour, circulate this email to your family members, relatives, neighbours and friends. Help CONSUMERS in Goa to be better informed. ---------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- GOACAN concerned about cases of Impersonation and Fake Account holders in Nationalised Banks of Goa -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Goa Civic and Consumer Action Network (GOACAN) expresses deep concern over the recent cases of impersonation that have surfaced in certain branches of nationalised banks in the State of Goa wherein fake documents and incomplete procedures have been used to open and operate bank accounts without any intervention of the Senior level officers of these Banks. These developments have given rise to serious questions about the authenticity of documents & photo identification being provided, the possible collusion of contractual staff & temporary business executives, the relaxation of verification procedures, the source of the money that is being deposited in these bank accounts and the role of the auditors of these banks. >From information gathered through investigations by GOACAN volunteers, the modus operandi adopted by the impersonator was to initially bring some 'good accounts' to the Bank to gain the confidence of the Managerial staff of the Bank and later compromise the verification procedures to be followed when opening new accounts. Poor quality photocopies of a PAN Card, together with photographs of an individual whose identity is not verified and a cheque issued from another bank are the basic documents attached to the account opening form. The impersonator operates on the basis of delay in getting the actual verification done by not producing the 'real account holder' and if the matter creates any suspicion then the account is quickly dried out by withdrawing all the money and letting the account close for want of minimum balance. This operation could last for a period of one month to six months depending on how alert the supervisory staff of the Bank could be to act and stop this malpractice. GOACAN is concerned that if such operations in popular nationalised banks in the main towns of Goa can carry on by impersonating individuals residing in remote villages of the Talukas of Sanguem, Quepem, Canacona, Sattari, Bicholim and Pernem, it could provide a golden opportunity to those involved in hawala transactions, illegal mining, narcotic trade and commercial sex to launder their ill gotten funds. As a first step GOACAN has written to the Branch Manager, Central Bank of India (Mapusa) and the Branch Manager of IDBI Bank Ltd. (Panaji) to undertake a full scale investigation into the cases of impersonation that have occurred in their banks based on a complaint filed by Swapnesh Anant Chari a resident of Darkond, Dharbandora. GOACAN calls upon all consumers of Goa to be alert to the misuse of photo identity documents such as Pan Cards, Driving Licences, Senior Citizens Cards, Social Security Cards and EPIC Cards which could be detected through receipt of computer generated correspondence from Banking Institutions about issue of cheque books, ATM cum Debit Cards, Quarterly statements, Reminder of renewal of Term Deposits and payment of Loan installments. Meanwhile, GOACAN has decided to take up this matter with the Director General of Police, Commissioner of Income Tax, Director of Transport, Chief Secretary Govt. of Goa, Social Welfare Department, Commissioner of Provident Fund, Labour Commissioner and Chief Election Commissioner that suitable and Urgent warnings and cautionary notices be issued to all its Card holders on safety precautions to be taken in this regard. ---------------------------------------------------------- GOA CIVIC AND CONSUMER ACTION NETWORK ---------------------------------------------------------- promoting civic and consumer rights in Goa ---------------------------------------------------------- GOACAN Post Box 187 Margao, Goa 403 601 GOACAN Post Box 78 Mapusa, Goa 403 507 mail: [email protected] ----------------------------------------------------------
