MARGAO: A wave of panic has swept through Salcete taluka as incidents of fraudulent phone calls from scammers posing as police officers continue to rise. This troubling trend has caused anxiety among residents, with women and mothers being specifically targeted.
Numerous citizens have reported receiving calls from fraudsters demanding ransom money under the guise of ensuring the safety or the release of their loved ones. Cynthia Fernandes, a resident of Colva, shared her harrowing experience with O Heraldo, stating that she has been repeatedly targeted by these calls.
“Twice, I received phone calls from unknown people posing as police officers, claiming my husband was involved in a crime. Initially, I panicked, but I disconnected the call before falling prey to their demands,” Fernandes said. She further noted that on Friday, she received another call, this time starting with the country code +92, which raised her suspicions since she was already aware of such scams.
Fernandes highlighted that many of her friends and fellow Colva residents have also been targeted by these fraudulent calls, which are predominantly conducted in Hindi. This reflects a broader, disturbing trend where cybercriminals target anxious parents and wives with fraudulent claims. These scams often involve false reports of a child’s kidnapping or a spouse’s arrest abroad, with demands for ransom money for their supposed release. One particularly alarming case involved a parent from Loutolim receiving a call from someone posing as a CID officer.
The fraudster falsely claimed that their daughter, studying at a higher secondary school in Raia, was in custody for involvement in a flesh trade racket.
Responding to the growing number of incidents, Salim Shaikh, Deputy Superintendent of Police in Salcete, has urged citizens to exercise extreme caution. “The Cyber Cell has been continuously raising awareness about this issue. However, citizens need to be careful and not fall prey to these fraudsters,” he appealed.
Congress delegation meets SDPO, urges action against scamsters
MARGAO: A delegation from the Congress party met with the South Goa SDPO Salim Sheikh on Friday. The Congress urged the police to increase awareness about fake calls aimed at hacking individuals’ bank accounts.
Congress member Elvis Gomes stated that more needs to be done beyond addressing the recent case of fake calls involving impersonators posing as police officials. These impersonators attempt to scare people by claiming their children have been kidnapped, and trick them into clicking on malicious links, leading to their accounts being hacked.
Gomes highlighted that this issue has been ongoing for some time, with Goans, especially senior citizens and job seekers, being targeted by such fake calls or messages. He explained that scammers try to induce unsuspecting locals to click on links by creating a false sense of urgency, whether through job offers, messages about unpaid electricity bills, or claims of expected deliveries. In the process, the scammers gain access to individuals’ bank accounts and steal their money.
