Lohardaga News: Cyber Fraud on the Rise in Bhandra Lohardaga, Gold Cleaning Scam Targets Locals

Lohardaga, December 02, 2024: In recent months, the Bhandra police station area in Lohardaga district has emerged as a hotspot for cyber fraudsters preying on unsuspecting rural residents. Cyber criminals are employing a variety of deceptive tactics to swindle villagers, who are often caught off guard by these sophisticated scams.

Cyber Fraudsters Exploit the ‘Maiya Samman Yojana’ Scheme

The first case involves a woman from Dumri village, Pushpa Kumari, who was duped by fraudsters claiming that she would receive funds under the “Maiya Samman Yojana.” Using this fake promise, the criminals tricked her into transferring money. They manipulated Pushpa Kumari through a fake link on a PhonePe payment platform, resulting in a loss of ₹57,000 from her bank account. Initially, the fraudsters stole ₹49,000, followed by another ₹8,000 in a subsequent transaction. This scam showcases the criminals’ methodical approach in targeting vulnerable individuals.

Bonus Fraud Through PhonePe

In another incident, cyber criminals targeted Ritu Kumari, the daughter of Vinod Sahu from Bhandra. These fraudsters lured Ritu by promising a bonus of ₹4,000 through her workplace. Using the PhonePe payment system, they manipulated her into transferring ₹9,000, convincing her that the extra amount was a processing fee. This method reflects the increasing sophistication of fraudsters, who are able to exploit workplace incentives to gain the trust of their victims.

The ‘Gold and Silver Cleaning’ Scam

Adding another layer to the increasing fraudulence in the region, scammers have begun exploiting residents by offering to clean gold, silver and utensils. In a disturbing new development, Aslam Ansari’s wife, Ismat Parveen, was swindled out of valuable jewelry worth around ₹3 lakh. The perpetrators arrived at Ismat’s home in broad daylight, claiming they were from a company that specialized in cleaning jewelry and utensils.

The criminals first convinced Ismat to give them a silver bangle for cleaning. Once the bangle was returned, they gained her trust and proceeded to take her gold jewelry, including a gold ring, two gold earrings and other valuable items. After a brief period, they handed Ismat a box containing a mixture of turmeric and chemicals, telling her to heat it for the jewelry cleaning process. When she opened the box later, she found nothing but the chemicals. The fraudsters had disappeared, leaving Ismat in shock.

Ismat, realizing the deceit, alerted her husband and nearby villagers. Despite efforts to locate the criminals, they vanished without a trace. Aslam and others informed the Bhandra police, who have since registered a case and launched an investigation. CCTV footage from the area has captured the fraudulent activities, providing crucial evidence that may lead to the culprits’ identification.

Cyber Criminals Adapt and Evolve

The rise in cyber frauds in Bhandra highlights the adaptive strategies of criminals, who continually change their methods to exploit the trust of innocent people. From phone scams to fraudulent jewelry cleaning schemes, the methods employed by these criminals are diverse, making it difficult for villagers to recognize the scams until it is too late.

With the number of cases steadily increasing, local authorities have urged residents to remain cautious and report any suspicious activity to the police. The rise in such incidents underscores the importance of cybersecurity awareness and vigilance, particularly in rural areas where the internet and digital payment systems are still gaining widespread acceptance.

The local police have expressed concern over the growing number of cybercrimes in the region and are working towards increasing awareness and preventing further fraud. Despite the challenges, the authorities are determined to track down the criminals using available technology and evidence.

Efforts to Combat Cybercrime

The police department has started a special campaign to raise awareness about the various cybercrimes prevalent in the area. They have also advised residents to be cautious when receiving unsolicited phone calls, messages or emails, particularly those requesting sensitive information or financial transactions. Local workshops and seminars are being organized to educate villagers about safe internet practices, with the goal of empowering them to recognize and avoid scams.

As digital payment systems become more integral to daily life, it is essential that people in rural areas like Bhandra become more aware of the risks and take necessary precautions to protect themselves from cyber criminals.