How India sometimes shoots itself in the foot

snowcrab · Oct 2nd, 2006, 17:01

British TV sting reveals call-centre data on sale

Indo-Asian News Service
LONDON, Oct. 1: Sensitive personal information of British customers from Indian call centres are being sold for a price, according to an investigation by Channel 4, The Sunday Times reported. The Channel 4 programme, as part of its Dispatches’ series, is titled The Data Theft Scandal and will aired on Thursday.

http://www.thestatesman.net/page.new...ss=1&id=131653

Nick-H · Oct 2nd, 2006, 18:02

Oh dear, a stain on India's shiny bright Call Centre industry.

I guess that there is a chance that this is going to happen anywhere --- but I wonder how well controlled the Industry here is.

Its a bit like... say I was running a factory here and I decided to employ a Health and Safety Officer (maybe there actually are such people). I just cannot imagine that he would even notice such things as unshielded drive belts, exposed machinery, bare wires and open, high-voltage junction boxes.

So I wonder what the real attitude to data protection is?

Sama · Oct 2nd, 2006, 20:16

doesn't surprise me. there's big money to be made with all that personal information even if there are controls in place.

greed is one thing that knows no color, race, or gender barrier. it's human nature.

crvlvr · Oct 4th, 2006, 03:35

Link does not work..

snowcrab · Oct 4th, 2006, 05:17

It's been archived, try this

http://www.thestatesman.net/page.arc... 038&usrsess=1

PeakXV · Oct 4th, 2006, 05:34

Lists are big business - the nefarious purchasers of these pay the biggest bucks for seniors with gold card credit - easier to bully(and get away with) an old lady with alzheimers.

crvlvr · Oct 4th, 2006, 06:42

At the end of day, it a cost/benefit decision for the big bank in UK who has decided to take advantage of out sourcing. Is their outsourcing related cost savings worth the 200K pound loss? It probably is.. They are probably savings millions each year. And companies have losses due to white color in their own home countries. Banks usually lose more than you think. But, they don't publicize it..

Nick-H · Oct 6th, 2006, 10:07

Your Data is Safer in India

Quote:

Accountants Ernst & Young found in a survey of Western corporate managers that almost two thirds expected to encounter more fraud in emerging markets than at home. Yet 75 per cent of fraud occurred in developed markets, the firm said. Forrester Research found in 2005 that the UK and US suffered more computer security breaches than India.

See This article from The Register

Gives some balance to the story!

yatrayatra · Oct 6th, 2006, 10:26

Let me give more balance - this story is inspired by competitors !

Second point - India need not worry ; think Enron, Vivendi, World Com,Tyco to name the big ones and then every other small company.

How many have bought stocks in US or European companies only to discover that the promises of the companies were fake ?

snowcrab · Oct 6th, 2006, 10:39

Perception is everything. India is percieved as corrupt in a multitude of small ways. The big crooks cover their tracks better. The biggest ones just write new laws to retroactively make what they do non-criminal. The perception can be very damaging for individuals and companies just trying to get ahead, even if the big crooks who can cover their tracks are actually comitting more fraud. Ceasar's wife.

Merchant · Oct 6th, 2006, 10:50

Quote:

Second point - India need not worry ; think Enron, Vivendi, World Com,Tyco to name the big ones and then every other small company.

Enron built a power plant in Maharashtra (back when it was an actual energy company), which is partially responsible for that state's power woes--just like in California, where Enron controlled power distribution.

snowcrab · Oct 6th, 2006, 11:17

The joys of globalization, big business versus little people all around the world.

yatrayatra · Oct 10th, 2006, 10:03

Of course perception has changed. Nobody has forgotten how a rogue trader Nick Leeson brought down Barings Bank.

The Indian call centre industry will grow at 30 percent compounded over the next five years. That is the perception of those who buy the stocks and also the fact.

Incidentally call centres are very small business now - the bigger business is BPO.

crvlvr · Oct 11th, 2006, 06:01

I found this related article interesting

Indian data theft 'exposed'

Britain gripped by fear of keyboard-wielding foreigners
By Mark Ballard
Published Thursday 5th October 2006 15:08 GMT

Quote:

A man in India offered to sell the front man of a Channel 4 sting operation the credit card details of 200,000 people, the programme Dispatches will reveal tonight.

The programme makers were inspired by a sting operation mounted on an Indian call centre last year by The Sun newspaper, in which a man allegedly sold the bank details of 1,000 British people to a journalist.

The Sun story helped stoke a backlash against outsourcing to India. The Sun was subsequently accused of duping its quarry and fabricating the story about fraud in India.

Quote:

Take the example of the Indian man who was arrested in June for selling information from an HSBC call centre that was used to defraud £233,000 from customer accounts. In the same month, however, and Edinburgh Donald McKenzie was prosecuted for defrauding £21m from the Royal Bank of Scotland.

Incidents of reported fraud in the UK have tripled in since 2003, according to BDO Stoy Hayward. The British government is conducting a review of unreported fraud the UK, which is it describes as "chronic".

Accountants Ernst & Young found in a survey of Western corporate managers that almost two thirds expected to encounter more fraud in emerging markets than at home. Yet 75 per cent of fraud occurred in developed markets, the firm said. Forrester Research found in 2005 that the UK and US suffered more computer security breaches than India.

snowcrab · Oct 11th, 2006, 07:50

There is a lot of backlash against outsourcing of jobs and immegrants illegal and otherwise taking local jobs from people in this country because the entire economy is very sluggish and people are finding it hard to mae ends meet. Maybe it's easier in England to do the same rather than question the policies of the government about military expenditures and other such entertainments.It hadn't occured to me that the original article might have a xenophobic bias knowing how oportunistic people can get in India if there is a chance to make a buck.Just what we need, more suspicion and nationalistic character assasination.

Oct 2nd, 2006, 17:01	#1
snowcrab Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alberta, Can Posts: 1,028	How India sometimes shoots itself in the foot British TV sting reveals call-centre data on sale Indo-Asian News Service LONDON, Oct. 1: Sensitive personal information of British customers from Indian call centres are being sold for a price, according to an investigation by Channel 4, The Sunday Times reported. The Channel 4 programme, as part of its Dispatches’ series, is titled The Data Theft Scandal and will aired on Thursday. http://www.thestatesman.net/page.new...ss=1&id=131653

Oct 2nd, 2006, 18:02	#2
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 25,860	Oh dear, a stain on India's shiny bright Call Centre industry. I guess that there is a chance that this is going to happen anywhere --- but I wonder how well controlled the Industry here is. Its a bit like... say I was running a factory here and I decided to employ a Health and Safety Officer (maybe there actually are such people). I just cannot imagine that he would even notice such things as unshielded drive belts, exposed machinery, bare wires and open, high-voltage junction boxes. So I wonder what the real attitude to data protection is? __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Oct 2nd, 2006, 20:16	#3
Sama a pain in the asana Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: the India inside my heart Posts: 5,204	doesn't surprise me. there's big money to be made with all that personal information even if there are controls in place. greed is one thing that knows no color, race, or gender barrier. it's human nature. __________________ *My India, 2005-2008*

Oct 4th, 2006, 05:34	#6
PeakXV Naan.tering Nabob Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Abode of Glooscap Posts: 4,043	Lists are big business - the nefarious purchasers of these pay the biggest bucks for seniors with gold card credit - easier to bully(and get away with) an old lady with alzheimers. __________________ We shall not cease from exploration and at the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started ...and know the place for the first time. T.S. Eliot Don't go to India ~ Pre-trip Warnings & Misconceptions?

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Oct 4th, 2006, 03:35	#4
crvlvr Guru Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Hollywood Posts: 4,413	Link does not work..

Oct 4th, 2006, 05:17	#5
snowcrab Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alberta, Can Posts: 1,028	It's been archived, try this http://www.thestatesman.net/page.arc... 038&usrsess=1

Oct 4th, 2006, 06:42	#7
crvlvr Guru Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Hollywood Posts: 4,413	At the end of day, it a cost/benefit decision for the big bank in UK who has decided to take advantage of out sourcing. Is their outsourcing related cost savings worth the 200K pound loss? It probably is.. They are probably savings millions each year. And companies have losses due to white color in their own home countries. Banks usually lose more than you think. But, they don't publicize it..

Oct 6th, 2006, 10:26	#9
yatrayatra Account Closed Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: india Posts: 118	Let me give more balance - this story is inspired by competitors ! Second point - India need not worry ; think Enron, Vivendi, World Com,Tyco to name the big ones and then every other small company. How many have bought stocks in US or European companies only to discover that the promises of the companies were fake ?

Oct 6th, 2006, 10:39	#10
snowcrab Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alberta, Can Posts: 1,028	Perception is everything. India is percieved as corrupt in a multitude of small ways. The big crooks cover their tracks better. The biggest ones just write new laws to retroactively make what they do non-criminal. The perception can be very damaging for individuals and companies just trying to get ahead, even if the big crooks who can cover their tracks are actually comitting more fraud. Ceasar's wife.

Oct 6th, 2006, 11:17	#12
snowcrab Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alberta, Can Posts: 1,028	The joys of globalization, big business versus little people all around the world.

Oct 10th, 2006, 10:03	#13
yatrayatra Account Closed Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: india Posts: 118	Of course perception has changed. Nobody has forgotten how a rogue trader Nick Leeson brought down Barings Bank. The Indian call centre industry will grow at 30 percent compounded over the next five years. That is the perception of those who buy the stocks and also the fact. Incidentally call centres are very small business now - the bigger business is BPO.

Oct 11th, 2006, 07:50	#15
snowcrab Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alberta, Can Posts: 1,028	There is a lot of backlash against outsourcing of jobs and immegrants illegal and otherwise taking local jobs from people in this country because the entire economy is very sluggish and people are finding it hard to mae ends meet. Maybe it's easier in England to do the same rather than question the policies of the government about military expenditures and other such entertainments.It hadn't occured to me that the original article might have a xenophobic bias knowing how oportunistic people can get in India if there is a chance to make a buck.Just what we need, more suspicion and nationalistic character assasination.

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