By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The State police have issued an advisory against prank calls, fake SMSes and emails cautioning the general public against responding in any manner to offers of money from abroad.
The advisory comes in the wake of reports of people being duped after responding to emails or SMSes which promised monetary gains.
“This year alone there have been five cases where people have been duped by conmen through emails and SMSes. The victims paid large sums of money to these conmen who had promised them huge amount of money,” Additional SP (Crime) Vivek Syiem told reporters here on Thursday.
According to Syiem, these prankster or conmen have adopted a new modus operandi whereby they claim to be representatives of reputed brand names like Coca Cola, Pepsi, Maruti Suzuki, Microsoft, UK Shell lottery and Hero Honda, and send emails and SMSes to unsuspecting people promising huge monetary rewards.
“The prospective winners are then advised to follow certain guidelines for receiving the prize money which includes payment of processing fees, courier charges etc,” he said.
Syiem informed that these conmen also use the names of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and United Nations Organisation (UNO) to mislead the people.
“On many occasions these conmen have been successful in misleading the people since nobody would suspect the emails or SMSes. We have information that people have paid lakhs of rupees to these conmen,” the Additional SP (Crime) said.
The police official advised the general public to be aware of any such calls, SMS alerts or emails, which promise financial gains.
“It is being clarified that these kinds of tactics are only aimed to lure and cheat gullible and innocent people. The general public is advised not to fall prey to such hoax calls on mobiles phones or do not respond to any SMS alert or an email of any such kind. The public should immediately inform the nearest police station whenever they receive such SMSes or emails,” Syiem said.
