MUMBAI: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Monday reiterated that until December 2021, banks cannot freeze accounts if the customer has not done a periodic KYC (know your customer) update. The central bank said this while cautioning the public not to fall prey to fraudulent messages seeking bank details for KYC updation purposes.
The RBI said it has been receiving complaints/reports about customers falling prey to frauds being perpetrated in the name of KYC updation. The RBI asked the public not to share key information like account details or passwords with unidentified persons or agencies under threat of account freeze.
Many customers have avoided visiting branches during the pandemic, which has provided fraudsters an opportunity to use KYC as a reason to engage with customers.
“The usual modus operandi in such cases include receipt of unsolicited communication, such as, calls, SMSs, emails urging him/her to share certain personal details, account / login details/ card information, PIN, OTP, etc or install some unauthorised/ unverified application for KYC updation using a link provided in the communication,” it said.
The RBI also said that it has made the process of KYC updation much simpler. The directions on simplified process comes in the wake of banks asking customers to fill multiple sheets of all-in-one document merely to get a periodic proof of address and identity.
The central bank on Monday said that NBFCs and payment system operators seeking to obtain Aadhaar e-KYC authentication licence can submit the application with the RBI.
In May 2019, the finance ministry had come out with a detailed procedure for processing of applications (under the PML Act) for use of Aadhaar authentication services by entities other than banking companies.
“Accordingly, non-banking finance companies (NBFCs), payment system providers and payment system participants desirous of obtaining Aadhaar Authentication license — KYC User Agency (KUA) license or sub-KUA license (to perform authentication through a KUA), issued by the UIDAI, may submit their application to this department for onward submission to UIDAI,” the RBI said in a circular. The RBI has also provided the format of the application.
Source:thetimesofindia.com