The advisory issued by the Nagaland Police on October 23. (Image Courtesy: @DGP_Nagaland/X)
Morung Express News
Dimapur | October 23
Barely two years after the ‘Zalando fever’ left many ‘investors’ in the State and across the country in the lurch, another “earning app” scam appears to have struck, prompting Nagaland Police to issue an advisory on Wednesday about a new Ponzi scheme.
“It has come to the notice of Nagaland Police that a company by the name RGA has lured many investors from Nagaland, promising huge returns,” noted the State Police in an ‘Advisory on Investment Scam.’
According to the police, initial investors are given returns as promised, apparently to appear genuine. Furthermore, down-line percentages are given to investors for introducing new investors. “This appears to be a Ponzi scheme,” it stated.
Accordingly, the Nagaland Police advised individuals who have lost money to call 1930 (Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System) immediately and report the scam with details for remedial measures, and to report these through the website https://cybercrime.gov.in/.
It was learnt that the police are investigating some cases, though details could not be obtained at the time of this report.
However, after the advisory was issued, many took to social media to share their views, with some reporting a stoppage of “withdrawal” and a purported letter from the management.
A closer scrutiny of the RGA movement showed that most of its activities are disseminated via the “RGA Official Channel” on Telegram, which has over 15,364 subscribers.
RGA Marketing Limited or R/GA appears to be used interchangeably in communications.
As per information on the landing page, the channel was created on June 13, and various modalities regarding ‘level income,’ commission, invitation codes, and other activities of the RGA have been highlighted and updated regularly since August 22.
When queried about the channel, a police officer stated that ‘prima facie’ it appears to be the same as the advisory issued by the Nagaland Police. Social media also points to these similarities.
A detailed examination of the ‘Official Channel’ suggested that many areas of Nagaland have been influenced by RGA, with activities reported as far as Noklak and the opening of offices in Chümoukedima and Kohima.
End of the road?
Meanwhile, an undated letter to all “RGA working partners,” shared on the ‘RGA Official Channel,’ informed that “RGA MARKETING LTD has already been approved by the Reserve Bank of India to cooperate with the corporate accounts of Bank of Baroda, Bank of India, State Bank of India, and Indian Overseas Bank.”
A formal notification from the Indian government on October 23, 2024, “clearly supports RGA in conducting all business in India in accordance with the regulations of the Indian Ministry of Labour and with reference to the 'Workers' Rights Protection Act (Code on Wages) 2020,” it claimed.
However, citing “regulations of the Indian central government,” it asked for ‘platform management fee’ to “all RGA regular employees” within the specified time (from 9:00 on October 23, 2024, to 18:00 on October 24, 2024).
"Non-payment of the management fee would be deemed as ‘automatic abandonment of the account,’ and the funds in the account will then be “automatically donated to the Indian Red Cross and other charities, it cautioned.
However, after payment of the management fee, the RGA account will return to normal, it asserted, adding that all RGA members “who have paid the platform management fee can withdraw cash from 9 am to 6 pm on October 25.”
The ‘letter’ cited above was shared on October 23. “We hope that every RGA member will read this information carefully. If anyone fails to pay the platform management fee within the specified time... your RGA account will be cancelled,” stated a message shared after the letter.
“If anyone pays the platform management fee, but the RGA account is not unfrozen and cannot withdraw cash on Friday, you can call the Indian government at any time to complain to us,” it assured.
Real R/GA
Meanwhile, the legitimate R/GA is identified as a “Global Digital Product, Marketing & Brand Innovation Company” on its website, headquartered in New York, United States.
Notably, in a “Scam Alert” posted on its site, it stated that R/GA (RGA Marketing Ltd) has “no physical presence or business in Egypt, India, or the Philippines.”
“If you have been approached by RGA MARKETING LTD IN EGYPT, RGA MARKETING LTD IN INDIA, or RGA MARKETING LTD IN PHILIPPINES, please be aware that these are wholly unrelated to R/GA,” it warned.
“Remember that reputable industry professionals rarely approach individuals out of the blue with such offers,” it added.
Online activities associated with the suspected RGA appear to be primarily confined to India and the Philippines.
.jpg)
