Romance Frauds: Online cheaters are swindling money from unsuspecting youngsters by offering to fix up a Valentine's Day date
If you find an offer to celebrate this Valentine's Day with an unknown person and your mobile phone is flooding with similar SMSes offering such attractive schemes, its time make a visit to the Cyber Crime Police station.
With online cupids offering to fix up a Valentine's Day date with an unknown person and asking to register details, the so-called 'romance fraudsters' are on the lookout for innocent youngsters. Moreover, self-proclaimed love gurus are also looking to trap rich youngsters in property frauds.
Most of these online cupids tend to emerge during the Valentine's Day every year and the Cyber Crime police (Detective Wing) have already registered a few cases in the past few days. They are organising awareness camps to educate youngsters not to fall into such honey traps. Awareness camps for online frauds are being organized in various colleges in the twin cities. City police officials have termed such cheating activity in the name of love as 'romance frauds'.
Deputy commissioner of police (Crime) J Satyanarayana told Express they would take stringent action against persons who are deceiving youngsters with such bogus schemes. "If someone comes across websites trying to engage them in sweet talk, we request them not to fall for it. Some web portals, operating from both India and abroad, are trying to lure youngsters into the honey trap,'' he said. He added that a few websites and individuals are reportedly targeting youngsters from rich families sending SMSes, e-mails and making publicity utilising networking sites like Orkut, Facebook and Twitter. Police said a few were also committing property offences using sweet talk over mobile phone and online chatting. They target well-to-do persons and cheat customers by collecting money.
For instance, 22-year-old Sathwik (name changed), who is studying in a corporate college in the city, approached the Cyber Crime police a few days ago and lodged a complaint after he fell into a honey trap on Facebook after being invited to celebrate Valentine's Day. He was allegedly given the name and address of a famous hotel in the city and reportedly paid a fee through online payment. He realized he had been cheated when he went to check the hotel.
Cyber Crime inspector Venkat, who is investigating such cases said that most youngsters were being cheated in the name of Valentine's Day celebrations. "We have received a number of complaints from IT, BPO employees and persons belonging to high society. We will take stringent action against cheaters under Section 66A of the IT Act,'' he added.
By Mouli Mareedu
moulimareedu@gmail.com
If you find an offer to celebrate this Valentine's Day with an unknown person and your mobile phone is flooding with similar SMSes offering such attractive schemes, its time make a visit to the Cyber Crime Police station.
With online cupids offering to fix up a Valentine's Day date with an unknown person and asking to register details, the so-called 'romance fraudsters' are on the lookout for innocent youngsters. Moreover, self-proclaimed love gurus are also looking to trap rich youngsters in property frauds.
Most of these online cupids tend to emerge during the Valentine's Day every year and the Cyber Crime police (Detective Wing) have already registered a few cases in the past few days. They are organising awareness camps to educate youngsters not to fall into such honey traps. Awareness camps for online frauds are being organized in various colleges in the twin cities. City police officials have termed such cheating activity in the name of love as 'romance frauds'.
Deputy commissioner of police (Crime) J Satyanarayana told Express they would take stringent action against persons who are deceiving youngsters with such bogus schemes. "If someone comes across websites trying to engage them in sweet talk, we request them not to fall for it. Some web portals, operating from both India and abroad, are trying to lure youngsters into the honey trap,'' he said. He added that a few websites and individuals are reportedly targeting youngsters from rich families sending SMSes, e-mails and making publicity utilising networking sites like Orkut, Facebook and Twitter. Police said a few were also committing property offences using sweet talk over mobile phone and online chatting. They target well-to-do persons and cheat customers by collecting money.
For instance, 22-year-old Sathwik (name changed), who is studying in a corporate college in the city, approached the Cyber Crime police a few days ago and lodged a complaint after he fell into a honey trap on Facebook after being invited to celebrate Valentine's Day. He was allegedly given the name and address of a famous hotel in the city and reportedly paid a fee through online payment. He realized he had been cheated when he went to check the hotel.
Cyber Crime inspector Venkat, who is investigating such cases said that most youngsters were being cheated in the name of Valentine's Day celebrations. "We have received a number of complaints from IT, BPO employees and persons belonging to high society. We will take stringent action against cheaters under Section 66A of the IT Act,'' he added.
By Mouli Mareedu
moulimareedu@gmail.com
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