A businessman based in Vishwakarma industrial area, who deals with the manufacturing of surgical items, was recently swindled of nearly Rs 2.5 lakh under the false pretense of being awarded tenders to supply surgical items in Nigeria on a large scale.
This incident is not an isolated case, as many other businessmen have also fallen victim to scams involving fake websites that claim to have regulations and rules for Indian exporters. In response to this, senior officers at the Jaipur commissionerate have advised people to conduct physical examinations of firms, companies, or individuals before entering into any deals or agreements through websites, phone calls, or social media, in order to avoid falling prey to these scams.
The victim, Sanjay Agarwal, explained how he received a call from a man posing as an agent who promised to secure tenders for his company to supply surgical items in Nigeria. Through emails and other forms of communication, Agarwal was introduced to individuals claiming to be Nigerian and were offering him promising returns on his exports. Agarwal followed their instructions and transferred Rs 1.10 lakh to an Indian account, which they claimed belonged to Indian exporters. Later, they asked him to pay an additional amount of nearly Rs 1.72 lakh for an export license. Agarwal eventually realized that the websites they had referred him to and the brochures available online were all fake. Consequently, he filed a First Information Report (FIR) at the Vishwakarma police station.
Another victim, a jewelry designer who chose to remain anonymous, was awaiting her courier consignment when she decided to check its status online. She came across a few links that prompted her to enter personal details such as her name, phone number, and age. Subsequently, she received a call from someone claiming to be a representative of a courier company, informing her that she needed to pay a duty fee to receive her courier. Following their instructions, she clicked on a link which resulted in Rs 75,000 being stolen from her account.
Ajay Pal Lamba, the additional commissioner of police (crime), emphasized the importance of being cautious and skeptical of any offers that seem too good to be true, such as gift vouchers or promises to facilitate exports. He urged individuals to conduct physical verifications instead of relying solely on the internet or social media. Additionally, Lamba revealed that the police station has dedicated officers well-versed in cybercrime to promptly address and solve such cases.
