Cyber frauds are exploiting the situation resulting from the lockdown by attempting to defraud those looking to buy alcohol and other items.
During the ongoing lockdown to contain the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) only the shops selling essential commodities are open while other shops including liquor shops and bars are closed. Taking advantage of this situation, some cyber criminals are spreading advertisements on the social media claiming to provide home delivery of liquor and other items in an attempt to con the public.
On Sunday, Karnpur resident Indravir Saral lodged a complaint in the cyber crime police station that an unidentified person had made a page on Facebook and displaying the name and address of Saral’s departmental store, was advertising online sale of liquor. This fraud was conning the public through the mobile phone on the pretext of selling liquor. The police have lodged a case under section 420 of IPC and section 66 C of the IT Act.
Deputy inspector general (STF) Ridhim Aggarwal has requested the public to not get taken in by such advertisements regarding online sale of items. She also warned that strict action will be taken against any person who makes a fake ID and puts up fake news on the social media or any person who forwards such fake news without verifying it first. Citizens are requested to inform the cyber crime police station at 1035-2655900 or mail at ccps.deh@uttarakhandpolice.uk.gov.in in case they come across anyone spreading such fake advertisements on the social media.