DIMAPUR:
Nagaland police, on March 5, advised the public to be aware of phishing scams by scammers posing as representatives of reputed banks or financial institutions, offering loans at low-interest rates.
Speaking on the modus operandi of the scammers, the police gave an overview of how such networks work. Scammers contact the victims either through SMS, emails or calls by introducing themselves as officers, representatives or agents of reputed financial institutions, including banks, they said through an advisory.
Once trapped, victims send soft copies of documents – ID, address proof, bank account details and PAN card, among others. The scammers then send fake loan approval forms and ask victims to pay the fee on the pretext of processing the loan, following which they disappear.
The police said, “Genuine loan providers never provide loans without verification and following due procedures laid down by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). We, therefore, advise the public to verify credentials of the loan providers before applying for the same and contact the nearest police station to inform such activities.”
Another method is “instant sanction” via private loan apps without verification. Once the money is received, the scammers get access to the victims’ contact lists and personal data, which are later used to harass and blackmail the victims, the police said.