Rajasthan Police Warns Citizens of Cyber Fraudsters Acting as TRAI Officials
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Jaipur, March 5 (NationPress) In light of the increasing instances of cybercrime within the state, the Cyber Crime Wing of Rajasthan Police has released a crucial public advisory alerting citizens about scammers impersonating officials from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and various investigative agencies.
The Additional Director General of Police (Cyber Crime), V.K. Singh, highlighted that these cybercriminals are targeting individuals by masquerading as officials and using threats of legal repercussions to extort money.
Shantanu Kumar Singh, Superintendent of Police, Cyber Cell, Police Headquarters, stated that these fraudsters employ numerous tactics to exert psychological pressure and deceive victims.
One prevalent scheme involves the so-called “digital arrest” scam, where criminals impersonate officers from agencies like the CBI, police, customs, or the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
They falsely assert that the victim’s Aadhaar card or mobile number is linked to serious offenses such as money laundering or drug trafficking and threaten them via video calls, coercing them to transfer substantial amounts to resolve the fictitious case.
Another common fraud is related to SIM deactivation and KYC scams. Victims receive alarming messages claiming that their SIM card will be deactivated imminently.
Under the guise of updating KYC information, these fraudsters trick individuals into downloading counterfeit applications or clicking on dubious links.
This can lead to SIM swapping, allowing criminals to intercept banking OTPs through call and SMS forwarding.
Police officials have also issued warnings regarding fraudulent mobile tower installation offers, especially in rural and semi-urban locales.
In these cases, scammers entice victims with promises of monthly rents ranging from Rs 20,000 to Rs 50,000 and hefty advance payments for installing a mobile tower on their property.
They subsequently demand fees for agreements or registration.
Additionally, criminals utilize fake emails or letters featuring counterfeit logos and letterheads from agencies like TRAI, CBI, or the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), threatening legal action to intimidate individuals into transferring funds.
The Rajasthan Police have urged citizens to exercise caution and verify any suspicious communications.
Officials emphasized that TRAI does not conduct inquiries via video calls or engage in any form of “digital arrest”.
People are advised to disconnect from calls from those claiming to be government officials who attempt to intimidate them and to refrain from sharing personal data, bank information, or OTPs with unknown contacts.
Any inquiries regarding mobile tower installations should be confirmed through the official Department of Telecommunications website at dot.gov.in.
The police have also called on the public to promptly report incidents of cyber fraud.
Victims can lodge complaints via the national cybercrime helpline number 1930, the special helpdesk numbers 9256001930 and 9257510100, the online portal cybercrime.gov.in, or by reaching out to the nearest police station or Cyber Police Station.
The Rajasthan Police have urged citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities immediately to assist in combating cybercrime.