SHILLONG: In the last three years, a large number of people in Shillong have been duped through social media Facebook and even through ATM card and continuous occurrence of such instances has once again forced the police to issue an advisory
SP (City) Vivek Syiem informed that there had been 41 cases of cheating pertaining to Facebook and 92 cases pertaining to ATM fraud for the last three years.
He said that despite several advisories issued by the police on cases of cheating with regard to cybercrime, complaints of falling prey to such crime are still being received.
All public are once again cautioned not to provide ATM card number and the three digit CVV/CVC number which are imprinted on the front and reverse sides of the card respectively,” he said while adding that caller usually pose as bank officials and speak eloquently in English or Hindi on banking matters. These calls mostly emanate from fraudsters hailing from the Jharkhand-Bihar belt.
He also added that social media users especially those on Facebook should check their profile settings and allow access to only known persons so as to not fall prey to unscrupulous persons who ask for intimate photographs or videos and eventually resort to blackmail for money.
“It is cautioned that most fraudsters after having communicated with the victim over a period of time, use the ploy of being held up in an Airport and say they would be released only if a fine is paid to the authorities. It is urged, that public should immediately go to the nearest Police Station for any clarification or complaint on such matters. Confidentiality, will be maintained on their request,” he said.
Public have also been cautioned not to fall prey to callers who pose as online Naaptol employees who inform that a prize for a vehicle has been won.
Later, several payments are demanded to process the papers in order to get the prize after before the unsuspecting victims finally realize that they have been duped.
He also urged public to be alert of such fraudsters who call up over phone/social media and not to give personnel information of themselves over phone to such person.
