Frauds use int’l phone numbers, remain untraceable

POLICE ALERT RESIDENTS People easily fall into the ‘ the lottery’ trap and part with their bank details and sometimes money

NAVI MUMBAI: If you get a call from an unknown international phone number, think twice before you answer the call.

Cybercriminals have got busy cheating residents using international phone numbers. They introduce themselves as bank officials and then ask for details like PIN, card number, account number, date of birth of the prospective victims on various pretexts.

Some of them also call people to inform about ‘the lottery’ they have won and take their bank details.

They route their calls through Pakistan, Sri Lanka and some African countries, the police said.

“We have received several cases in the past few months, wherein the victims received calls from Pakistani, Lankan and Nigerian phone numbers. Some t hem even received calls from SIM cards issued f rom t he UK. T he c al l ers speak Hindi and English and inform people that they have won a lottery. After that they ask the victim to deposit some money to the given accounts to get their names registered,” said Pratibha Shendge, police inspector from Navi Mumbai cyber cell.

“Some callers i ntroduce themselves as Reserve Bank of I ndia of f i cials and ask f rom their credit card and debit details. People, who are giving their secret details to such fraudsters, they are losing money from their bank accounts for sure,” she said.

According to senior police officers, there are two reasons behind using inter national numbers.

First, it is easy to convince people. Second, the police won’t be able to trace them as they are routing their calls through some foreign countries.

Sources from Navi Mumbai cyber cell s aid t hey have received nearly 1,700 complaints of online cheating and illegal transactions in 2014 and 2015.

Suresh Mengade, deputy commissioner of police ( special branch), said, “We appeal to the residents not to entertain such calls. People should not give any detail of to anyone on phone or through emails.”

“The cyber thieves also send e-mails to people from various bogus sites that look like original sites of the reputed banks. If someone gives details replying such e- mails, he will lose money from his account,” he added.

“As the victims lose money because of t heir own mistake, their banks also do not entertain their complaints. Therefore awareness is the only prevention of such crimes,” Shendge said.