Scammers dupe Indian mobile users, harass for money

Thursday, 15 April 2010, 15:16 IST   |    6 Comments
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Scammers dupe Indian mobile users, harass for money
Mumbai: A scamming ring has effected many mobile users in India, who get a text message from ISD codes such as '+501' and '+401' which says they have won a lottery and then later get calls in the middle of the night demanding money. Those interested in getting their hands on the pot of gold are unable to call the sender. Instead, they are provided with an email id via which they can contact the 'bearer of the good news' for further instructions. "The fraudsters are using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) accounts to contact victims. These websites - perfectly legal in the U.S. and the UK - allow registered users to make international calls or send SMSes via the internet at a cheaper rate," said a police official, according to Economic times. The scammers given an email id of a person called Richard who then insists that a certain amount of money had to be handed over as a processing fee for collecting the winnings. If the money is not given then the scammers call up and harass for money. "It is not unusual for the victim to be plagued by calls asking for more money," said a police officer. One victim, who did not wish to be named said he would receive calls at 2.45 am in the morning, with the caller making demands for money. "And all the numbers began with +501," he said. Technology expert Vijay Mukhi said: "A VoIP call can be made from a mobile phone, a computer or even a specialised phone. Some VoIP users also use '+501' numbers. But I don't see why the identity of the caller cannot be displayed. Police advise that you don't respond to the SMS. In the event that you do get scammed, contact the local police station and register a complaint. Do not delete either the SMSes or email messages you have received from the fraudsters