SMS promising early COVID-Vaccine registration in Silchar; “Strict action shall be taken,” DC Keerthi Jalli

Netflix streamed a series last year which became immensely popular. Titled ‘Jamtara’ the series features youngsters, rather fraudsters calling and texting people and looting money from them. The entire country has become ‘Jamtara’. Every day, thousands of people complain about calls from fraudsters claiming to be bank executives. They source vital details like name, account number, address, and call potential targets. Once they receive they try to lure them into a trap and get important information like CVV, OTP eventually looting money.

This is no longer limited to banks. The impatient humankind is desperately waiting for a vaccine that they feel will secure and immune them from the Coronavirus which has caused a global pandemic. The phase-wise vaccine rollout has begun in most of the countries and in India, the doses will be first administered to the healthcare workers.

Meanwhile, fraudsters across the country have started using the impatience for their benefit. People in Silchar also said that they have got calls from alleged healthcare workers who have promised them early registration for Vaccine through email. A link road resident said, he got an SMS that asked him if he wants to register for the COVID vaccine to get it before others. If he is interested, he must click the link.

“I was about to click the link, but then I decided to read the message carefully once more, and then I realised this could be fake. I immediately searched about it on google and there was plenty of information online about such fraudulent activities already. However, I fear, if it was sent to older people, they could have clicked the link,” said the student of Assam University who stays in Link Road.

After clicking the link, it takes one to a website that asks for details like Aadhar number, email id registered with Aadhar. Similar scams took place in other parts of the country as well. In Telangana, one such case was brought to the attention of the Police by a student. Her father had come home and said that he has registered for the vaccine. When the student checked, she found her father has given details to a fake vaccine-registration portal.

The incident was reported to Cyberabad Metropolitan Police which is the police commissionerate located in Gachibowli, Rangareddy district, Telangana. According to a Hindu Businessline report, Cyberabad Police said, “Fraudsters are making phone calls to people offering to register their names for the vaccine. They are collecting details such as Aadhaar, email in the name of Covid-19 vaccine registration and ask for OTP (one-time password) to open multiple bank accounts.”

The officer in-charge added, “They are (fraudsters) also asking for credit and debit card details to siphon off funds from their accounts.” The Police appealed to the people to not fall into this trap.

Similar cases were reported in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh too. Reports surfaced from Kolkata and other parts of West Bengal, Bihar, Maharashtra, and many other states. There are multiple groups in multiple states, they learn from each other and practice on their own in their respective areas, said an officer in Cachar. “It is quite possible that the group sending messages to people in Silchar hails from Cachar district itself,” the officer in Cachar administration added.

Speaking with Barak Bulletin, Cachar DC Keerthi Jalli asserted, “We will not entertain any such activities.” Issuing a stern warning to the miscreants, the deputy commissioner added, “Strictest action shall be taken.”

A senior Police Officer in Assam Police, however, believes that action will only follow once the crime has been committed. He is of the view that the crime can be prevented. “All the stakeholders in the society need to join hands and generate awareness in order to ensure that nobody falls in this trap. The fraudsters cannot cause any damage without convincing or tricking the victim. Not getting tricked is the best trick to combat such elements,” said the top officer in Assam Police.

The Cyber-safety and Cybersecurity awareness handle maintained by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, “Cyber Dost” has also tweeted about the COVID Vaccine registration scam and urged the people of the country to beware. “Due to apprehension associated with COVID-19, Cybercriminals are playing various tricks. They may offer to “pay and register” in getting priority to receive first CORONA VACCINE, through a malicious link, mail, message, or phone call. Be aware otherwise you may get defrauded,” stated the tweet.

It is certain that the number of people getting such messages in Cachar and Barak Valley will only grow with time and awareness will be the only way to combat the malicious activity.