Beware! Web conmen out to net you

Newsline takes a look…

Job offers
Fraudsters,faking a UK connection,often target Indian citizens through emails. Most unsolicited offers are fraudulent,states the communication. Any individual or company,who ask for details of your bank account online or by phone,are usually tricksters. Any offer of cash being released in exchange of cash or bank account details is likely to be fraudulent.

Case in point
Two Chandigarh-based nurses,Kamal Raj and Amardeep Kaur,were offered jobs in London and were even issued appointment letters last year,which later turned out to be fake. But before being found out,the cheat duped both to the tune of 4,000 pounds each (approximately Rs 2.8 lakh). The two approached the UK High Commission and the trickster,identified as Angelique Blim,was finally nabbed in London in February and is currently facing trial in the Westminster Magistrates’ Court.

Counsel for the complainants,Major Guneet Chaudhary (Retd) said: “It is absolutely atrocious. In the hope of earning a better livelihood abroad,people have become gullible targets of such online tricksters.”

Safeguards
* Genuine UK companies are registered and a list of them can be found on http://www.companieshouse.gov.uk
* UK company addresses can be checked on http://www.upmystreet.com.uk
* Genuine UK companies do not give a mobile telephone number for contact details
* Most of the genuine UK companies do not use a ‘hotmail’ or ‘yahoo’ email account
* The British Government does not send unsolicited mails with job offers,either directly or through agents. Government vacancies are advertised on official websites in UK on http://www.careers-civilservice.gov.uk or on the British High Commission website http://www.ukindia.com in India
* Think about the “recruitment procedure”. Very few genuine UK companies would offer a job by email. Genuine companies have a rigorous selection procedure,which normally involves a face-to-face interview
* Fraudulent email-ids such as ukvisas@hotmail.co.uk are being used to lure people. However,according to the UK High Commission,a genuine email from an official of the High Commission will always be from the official service provider — @fco.gov.uk
* How were you contacted by the UK firm? If you happened to meet an employee in an internet chat-room,who subsequently offered you employment,then it is very likely to be fraudulent.

Lottery scams
Certain lottery scams have also come to light lately wherein people parted with lakhs of rupees in the hope of getting millions of pounds as the grand prize. In one such case registered last year,a city-based advocate ended up paying Rs 4 lakh.

Case in point
Balbir Singh,a resident of Mohali,received an email in May 2008 from drawnnoticetiws@dodo.com.au informing him that he had won 1 million pounds in online promotion awards held in the UK. The sender,later identified as Bright,asked Singh for his personal details and to deposit some money in an account to claim the award. Through subsequent emails,Singh was asked to deposit Rs 1.81 lakh,which Singh did. Eventually,Singh complained to the Chandigarh Police and a trap was set up to nab the trickster. Singh managed to lure Bright to India by offering to pay for a return journey from London to collect more money. Bright came to Chandigarh and was arrested and lodged in Burail jail.

“The investigation of such frauds consumes a lot of time and resources. Often,the accused may actually go undetected. But residents need to be aware and vigilant of such online imposters,” said a senior police officer.

Safeguards
* All genuine UK lotteries are registered and have websites
* If you did not buy a ticket,you cannot win a lottery
* UK lotteries do not email winners or mention the amount won. The UK Gambling Commission should be contacted on their website http://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk for verifying any such mail