GUWAHATI, Dec 27 � The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has cautioned the public in general against falling prey to fictitious offers of cheap funds that are rampant in recent times. Often the fraudsters lure the public in the form of lottery prize money through letters, emails, SMS, etc., an official release stated.
The RBI has observed that such fraudulent communications were even sent on fake letterheads of the Reserve Bank of India or other reputed organisations, purportedly signed by their top executives/ senior officials. It has also been noticed that many residents have fallen victims to such teasing and tempting offers and in the process, have lost huge sums of money. The fraudsters seeks money from people under different heads, such as processing fees, transaction fees, tax clearance charges, conversion charges, clearing fees, etc.
They open multiple accounts in banks in the name of individuals or proprietary concerns in different bank branches for receiving such payments. The amount so remitted is withdrawn immediately, leaving the victims in the lurch. Evidently, the fraudsters� strategy is to play upon the credulity of unsuspicious victims, the release added.
