Nasscom spearheads damage control over UK channel''s sting on Indian BPOs

The Channel 4 sting on data thefts in Indian call centres has not evoked too many harsh reactions as expected. But it has certainly put the spotlight on the Indian BPO industry, which needs to step up its PR overseas. CNBC-TV18 reports.

A day after the Channel 4 sting on data thefts in Indian call centres, Nasscom's vice president Sunil Mehta was in London meeting regulators and doing some "damage control". He said that Nasscom was in touch with the producers and that a police investigation is already underway.

Mehta said, "As soon as we heard about this we asked the producers for information. As soon as we got additional information, we lodged a complaint and the police is already investigating."

Commenting on the impact of the show, Mehta said that it was important to realise that cyber crime is a global reality and the challenge is really how to control it.

Cyber crime expert Riten Gohil, who works closely with the Indian BPO industry, says that security standards are high in India but perhaps more needs to be done to train the young employees on corporate responsibility.

He also adds that consumer awareness, too, is the key. He says that consumers are equal partners in this fight against fraud.

This latest 'episode' has brought the BPO industry in India under scrutiny. It will need to undertake a PR exercise of sorts to reassure consumers that cases like the ones on the show are the exception and not the norm.