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=Mizoram Express Feature=

Some Mizos say they received ‘get rich offer’ SMSes

Beware of 'great offers'.

After reports of the arrest of four Nigerian nationals by the Nagaland Police in New Delhi a few days ago some Mizos settled in Assam and Bangalore said they too received similar messages on their mobile sets which promised them an award out of the blue.

“Congrats!ur cel (#) had won worth 800,000.00+N70 Celphone/thru electronic raffle draw frm … Charity Foundation. . .During our 50th annvrsary/last 01>01>08/Send ur Name, Age&add to… (Scamster’s address)… 4more info’s how to claim!pls call now,” is the usual complete SMSes sent to most of the receivers who responded to the first part of the fraud message.

The four Nigerian were brought to Dimapur from New Delhi and police said that the fraudsters have cheated many people from Nagaland for the past several months by sending them text messages.

Last week, Mizoram Express (ME) received a message from a concerned Mizo, asking whether the SMS message she had received on her phone was for real. The lady who do not want to be named said, “If I had not contacted you (ME), I would have done what most people would do and get cheated in the same manner.”

Nagaland police has registered several cases of embezzling money by enticing people and sending them SMS claiming that they had won lottery prizes.

If any of the mobile phone users grabbed the bait of supposedly winning a million UK pounds or US dollars, they were instructed to deposit some amount for the certificate, registration, international and local taxes and so on.

During the investigation, police discovered that the bank account where the money was instructed to be deposited was of New Delhi. A police team went to Delhi two months back and after thorough investigation, they arrested two people with the help of Delhi Police. On their revelation, police arrested the four Nigerians who were mastermind of the cheating gang and already looted several lakhs of rupees from Nagaland.

Nagaland police team is still working to track down other gang members.

The good news is that there has been no report of any Mizos being swindled in  Mizoram and also from the Mizo community living in other parts of India.

If you receive any SMSes promising easy to get rich offer and lottery awards, call your telephone provider and let them know what has happened and ask for advice.

Golden rules to detect a scam

• If any offer looks too good to be true—it probably is a scam.
• Use your common sense: the offer may be a scam.
• Always get independent advice if an offer involves significant money, time or commitment.
• Remember there are no get-rich-quick schemes: the only people who make money are the scammers.
• Do not agree to offers or deals straight away: tell the person that you are not interested or that you want to get some independent advice before making a decision.
• You can contact the nearest police station or banks and enquire if such offers are there in the open market.
• Never send money or give credit card or online account details to anyone you do not know and trust.
• Check your bank account and credit card statements when you get them. If you see a transaction you cannot explain, report it to your credit union or bank.
• Keep your credit and ATM cards safe. Do not share your personal identity number with anyone. Do not keep any written copy of your PIN with the card