RBI warns against fraudulent offers

Kohima, October 27 (DIPR): With a number of fictitious offers of cheap funds in recent times, often in the form of lottery prize money, through letters, e-mails, SMS, etc being offered by fraudsters, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has advised customers to be aware and follow proper guidelines laid down by the RBI. The RBI has said that fraudulent communications are being sent on fake letterheads of the RBI or other reputed organizations, purportedly signed by their top executives/senior officials. It has been reported that many persons have fallen victims to such teasing and tempting offers and in the process, have lost huge sums of money. The fraudsters seek money from people, under different heads, such as, processing fees/transaction fees/ tax clearance charges/ conversion charges, clearing fees, etc. The fraudsters open multiple accounts in banks in the name of individuals or proprietary concerns in different bank branches for receiving such payments and the amount so remitted is withdrawn immediately, leaving the victims in the lurch. Evidently, the fraudsters’ strategy is to play upon the credulity / naiveté / gullibility / ignorance / greed of unsuspecting victims, the RBI said.  In the light of such undesirable developments, the RBI has advised to follow and take care that customers “do not remit or deposit any amount in response to such fictitious offers of easy money through lottery, prizes etc, received mainly through letters, email or SMS.” Further, RBI said it “does not maintain any account in the names of individuals/companies/trusts etc. to hold funds for disbursal.” Reserve Bank of India would never ask people to deposit money in any account. Also note that “making any type of remittance towards participation in schemes of lotteries/ offers from unknown entities abroad or their agents in India is illegal.” Customers may refer to the cautionary advices available in the matter at the RBI website (www.rbi.org.in). The RBI has further advised on registering such cases with the local police or the cyber crime wing at the State police headquarters, in case customers receive any such offer and invariably do so, if you have already parted with any amount at the behest of the fraudsters. 

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