SHILLLONG: The city police have issued an advisory cautioning citizens against mobile tower frauds.
SP (City) Vivek Syiem said it has come to the notice of the district police that unidentified persons are calling up people randomly on the phone claiming to be functionaries or employees of Reliance Communications or other service providers.
The modus operandi is that the caller claims that he has got the contact number after conducting a survey and wants to directly deal with the land owner, and not with a third party, for setting up mobile towers.
The police said the fraudster first asks the person whether they have any land available for setting up of mobile tower.
If the answer is yes, then he asks for a copy of the land documents, address details for satellite verification and other documents like PAN card and address proof. A payment of Rs 20,000 to Rs 1,00,000 is initially asked as security deposit but continues with the demand for several other payments to clinch the contract. All communications are stopped once the fraudster feels that the victim cannot pay anymore.
The callers are using Kolkata-based SIM cards.
“All steps are being taken by the district police to nab the culprits. However, people are requested not to fall into the trap of such fraudsters who have cheated several persons,” Syiem added.