By Our Reporter
Shillong: In yet another case of fraud being committed over the Internet, a city resident was allegedly cheated of Rs 1,17,400 by two persons – James Fox and Michael Philips – who claimed to be Executives of M/s Coca Cola Company, UK.
The victim, one John Gilbert Dkhar, has lodged a complaint at Lumdiengjri PS that between August 12 and 30, 2012 the two persons – James Fox and Michael Philips – had cheated him of Rs. 1,17,400.
When contacted, East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police, M Kharkrang, reiterated his appeal to the people to reject and pay no heed to any kinds of offers which they receive in their mobiles in the form of text messages or in their mailbox.
Maintaining that people who usually fall for these kinds of fake offers were not illiterates, Kharkrang said, “No matter how much we tried to disseminate information to the public about avoiding such fake messages or emails, yet many still chose to accept them”.
“The only thing which needs to be done to prevent people from falling prey to such traps is to educate people more on such topics while asking people to contact the police if they are unsure of the credibility of any firm or individual who offers them job placement and monetary benefits,” the SP added.
Meanwhile, a new trend has seemed to emerge among cyber criminals who resort to luring candidates with fake degree, diploma and certificates of any institute from any country of the world. This new type of open advertisement that email users are encountering now has prompted a Parliamentary Committee to actually propose the National Academic Depository Bill (NADB) to crackdown on such instances.
Speaking to The Shillong Times, Nolindra Sangma, an internet buff, said he had been lured by such an advertisement recently offering him a degree or certificate of his choice from any Indian college or university and that too at a discounted rate.
“The ad said that a real degree/ certificate similar to those actually issued to pass-outs would be issued. The ad further said that they are a company designated to create certificates and degrees for schools and colleges both in India and abroad,” Sangma said.
Another such user, who also claimed to have received a similar ad, said he was lured with a degree that can be replaced with a lost or damaged degree/ diploma issued by any college or university.
“I don’t know how they came to know that I am really in need of a duplicate degree since I lost my original few days back. Although I was tensed because I could not trace it for a month now and have also shared this with my friends over the internet via chat and emails. Can it be that these companies are actually keeping track of users account?” he asked.
His apprehension is also echoed by Anusree Bhattacharjee who said, “I have also received such an offer but that does not hold water for me since I am about to retire from service. But this is a grave danger and can actually lure candidates to get a degree/ certificate as if it is very easy to graduate these days,” she said.
Erikilla Chyne, a university student said that she too has come across the offer which says that the degree maker stocks genuine degree and certificate templates from renowned schools, colleges and universities in the country.
Lotsing Marak, a college student said that these degree/ certificates makers also promise that they will match the transcripts with signature and seal.
“These are open advertisements by fraudulent organizations and there can be a racket behind them with nexus between academia and such companies,” he observed.
Dijendra Paul, a parent, said that to check this trend the NADB was formulated which allows the provision of a national database of academic awards in online format so that these degree/ certificates/ awards can be verified. “For this to happen, every higher secondary schools, colleges and universities should deposit their academic certificates/ degrees with the NADB,” he said.