Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)
Mangalore, Aug 11: Each day, thousands of people receive fake SMS, announcing that their mobile number has been chosen for a bumper prize of a few lacs of dollars. The recipients are normally asked to forward their names, addresses, and photographs to an email id specified in the SMS. Thousands of people, who had followed the lead provided by such messages, have lost money and mental peace in the bargain. People should never give in to the lure offered by such messages, although the names of the senders may appear to be reputed companies like ICC Cricket, Cocacola, Pespi, etc.
The first and foremost action expected of the receiver is to always delete such a message as soon as it arrives in the inbox. Because, there is not even a remote chance of getting any benefit out of it.
Mobile phone connections have been swelling in India, touching eight crore mark, and still growing. Our country has one of the largest networks of mobile phone connections in the world. This information, coupled with the fact that the Indian mobile phone users are comparatively less informed, has attracted the internet thieves to concentrate on this vulnerable group.
Compared to other modes of communication, mobile phones are the cheapest and most convenient. Besides, they provide the owners with lot of other benefits like music, video, camera, etc. Some say that most of the messages which target mobile users for swindling, originate from Nigeria, which has a network of SMS fraudsters.
The modus operandi of these groups is simple. At the outset, messages which announce in bold letters about the winning of huge prizes are sent to thousands of mobile phones in bulk. The fraudsters are sure that at least some gullible mobile users would respond. Once the details as sought are forwarded, the mobile users will start receiving a number of further requirements. A student of journalism in Ujire SDM College has collected some information about the working of this racket.
Some times, the senders of the messages require you to call a particular number. If this number is called, huge amount gets deducted from the balance in the mobile connection. As the number given usually originates in Nigeria, the mobile number of the calling person faces the risk of being used by terrorists operating from there, it is surmised.
On the other hand, if the mobile users send personal details to the email id, they will start receiving further enquiries about personal details like name, address, bank account number, identity card etc. There is a risk of these details also being misused by terrorists or other elements. They later ask the sender to send money to a specified bank account number, claiming that the same is required for meeting customs duty levied on the prize amount. The photograph of the person who they say will deliver the money, and copy of letter announcing the prize, also are sent to the sender. In all probability, this photograph might be of a person who got cheated earlier by the racket.
We have been reading every day through newspapers, that internet thieves have been stealing information from even sensitive sites like high courts and government offices. The hackers also create fake websites with similar-sounding names, which look like genuine ones. The youngsters in particular, who are more prone to becoming victims of such operations, because of the fact they use internet and mobile most of the time, need to exercise caution, and desist from sending any personal information without properly confirming that the information seeker is genuine.