Fraud bid using Speaker’s name; SP informed about case

SHILLONG, April 12: Assembly Speaker Metbah Lyngdoh has apprised the Superintendent of Police of East Khasi Hills about the circulation of a message in WhatsApp from a number (6297079020) posing as Lyngdoh in an attempt to dupe people.
The WhatsApp contact had Metbah Lyngdoh’s picture in its profile and the message being circulated was pertaining to Amazon gift card.
The message reads: “Are you familiar with the Amazon pay gift card? You can possibly get them from the amazon.in website as there are some listed prospects I am gifting them today. I can’t get it done myself due to meetings and I don’t have any of my cards with me. How quickly can you arrange these gifts cards because I need to send them out in less than an hour. I would provide you with the type of gift cards and the amount of each. I will reimburse you before the end of the day (sic).”
It was informed that the message is being sent to many of the MLAs.
When contacted, Lyngdoh said that he has already spoken to the Superintendent of Police, East Khasi Hills, Sylvester Nongtnger, about the WhatsApp message.
“I would be filing an FIR tomorrow since I am currently in Guwahati,” the Speaker said.
He has requested the people to ignore the message in question, if they should receive it.
Another message was sent to one of the MLAs where the fraudster sought a favour. This MLA then received another message talking about the gift card.
However, none of the legislators have become a victim of the fraud bid.