WOKHA, JANUARY 6 (MExN): Wokha Police have issued a public cautionary notice informing of the increasing cases of fraud through internet and mobile phones. Superintendent of Police, Wokha, Limasunep Jamir, in the notification, cautioned the public against solicitating calls/messages/e-mail from unknown numbers/e-mail IDs and informed that such matters should be reported to the police for verification.
The notice informed that many people have been duped into depositing huge amounts of money with false promise of winning lotteries. It added that some users have been tricked into disclosing their confidential ATM PIN numbers, passwords by fraudsters posing as Bank officials. The notice also informed of cases where some members of the public have opened numerous account numbers and then sold off the ATM cards to national and international based fraudsters. Cases of fraudsters/conman posing as religious workers/Christian missionaries have also been reported and established, it added.
The notice then explained in detail, the modus operandi of the fraudsters. As per Wokha Police, random calls/appeals from call centers or e-mail from persons posing as agents of renowned companies are sent to prospective clients, informing that they have won a lottery. In other cases e-mail or calls from persons posing as religious workers appealing for transfer of fund outside the country are also made.
Police informed that the fraudsters even go to the extent of furnishing, via email, fake documents like clearance certificate from Central Board of Excise and Customs, New Delh; Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Letter of Guarantee; Her Majesty’s (HM) Revenue & Customs Cash Payment Receipt; Her Majesty’s (HM) Courts affidavit/ letter of approval; Certificate of Winning; Delivery diplomat passport scan for identification and security purpose, License for payment etc.
Prospective clients are then informed that diplomats/company agents will be arriving in the country to make the payment, and are directed to make arrangements for clearance of tax and other expenses. Clients are then made to give advance payments through local conduit agents Bank Account Numbers on one pretext or the other “like for bailing out company foreigner agent stating that he has been arrested and under immigration custody and other excuses.”
The fraudsters then send fake license for payment from High Commission Office, Transfer slip from Credit Control and Wire Transfer Department and instruct the clients to make further payments as PIN activation fee, Tax clearance fee etc.
Fake ATM Cards packaged in greeting card, stating security reasons, are dispatched with direction for payment as activation/processing fees through different local bank accounts numbers, the notice informed.
Wokha Police stated that in the course of investigation, based on mobile calls log, e-mail ID and Bank account numbers, the trail has lead mostly to fraudsters within the country. However, police added that due to fictitious IDs, cases could not progress much, leaving the investigating agencies without much option. In view of this unprecedented rise in information technology/cyber related crimes, Wokha Police have cautioned the public not to solicit calls and mails from unknown /doubtful sources, and stay guarded against any attempt from such fraudsters.
