Soaring Wings

SMS scam

*Media told to educate people

Aizawl: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Regional Office Guwahati organized a press briefing for the print and electronic media of Aizawl on Aug 17 evening at the Conference Hall of the State Guest House regarding ficticious prize money and fake lottery offered to people through SMS, email and letters.

Earlier Mizoramexpress.com had reported about enormous amount of fictitious prize scams offered via SMSes and emails to mobile phone users in the state.

Regional Director RBI Smt. Surekha Marandi and Deputy General Manager RBI Shri A Bhaskara Rao addressed the gathering and informed the press about the need to educate the public and create awareness about this new crime so that the public do not fall prey to such fake offers. She requested the media people to disseminate information about this new crime.

Smt. Marandi informed the press about the different methods adopted by such fraudsters to cheat the public and steps taken by the RBI in this matter. She also clarified that, RBI being the Government’s Bank,does not maintain any account in the names of individuals, companies or trusts, as claimed by such fraudsters.

Further she added that RBI does not have any investigative powers and hence any such matters should be reported to the Cyber Crime Cells and the Economic Offences Wing of the police.

She asked the press persons to caution the public especially bank account holders to take care of their accounts and not allow operation by any third parties/persons including relatives and friends to avoid any misuse.

In case of loss of startup kits, debit cards/cheque books of their accounts, she said that the matter should be brought immediately to the notice of bank officials to avoid possibilty of misuse by fraudsters.