Easy target for fraudsters - ONGC retirees

Vol 27, PW 26 (16 Jan 25) People & Policy
 

ONGC chairman AK Singh is under pressure to strengthen the company’s data security to prevent personal details from leaking, as scammers increasingly target retired ONGC officers.

On January 6 (2025), ONGC Ex-Employees Welfare Association (OSEWA) president LK Mirchandani wrote to Singh that retired staff have suffered significant financial losses because of online fraudsters. "This alarming trend is directly linked to the unauthorised access and leak of personal data, which has enabled scammers to perpetrate fraudulent activities," he said.

Mirchandani's letter was spurred by an alarming incident that affected Sai Ram Irukuvajjula, who retired in August 2024 as ONGC chief technical services based in Delhi. Irukuvajjula complained to ONGC’s Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) on January 6 (2025).

"It is deeply concerning that individuals outside of ONGC are obtaining sensitive personal details of ONGC employees, especially retirees, and using them for malicious purposes," writes Mirchandani. "This issue demands a thorough investigation to determine how such personal information is being compromised."

Only Irukuvajjula’s alertness saved him from losing money, Mirchandani tells this report. According to Irukuvajjula’s complaint, he received a call on his mobile on January 6 (2025) from mobile number +91 86170 238 24, with the caller identifying himself as Kuldeep Srivastav from ONGC’s retired employees' cell at Dehradun.

"The caller provided me with all my details, including my retirement from ONGC’s Delhi office as chief of technical services," Irukuvajjula writes. Next, the caller claimed the ONGC Cares Card (health card) for retired employees was being digitalised, and one card would cover all family members.

He told Irukuvajjula to expect a WhatsApp call in video mode. "The caller said he would take live photos of myself and my wife separately and upload them on the portal for the new digital card," reads the complaint.

"He also asked me to open the ONGC Bandhan account (a portal for former ONGC employees) and asked me to check the profile, photo and other details; the caller spoke smoothly and confidently and said I must pay Rs10 to verify my account details." But as he filled in his credit card details, Irukuvajjula grew suspicious and disconnected the call.