In a significant public alert, the West Bengal Police has exposed a sophisticated online loan fraud scheme that is illegally using the name and photograph of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to deceive citizens. The warning was issued officially on Sunday via the police's social media channels.
How the Fraudulent Scheme Operates
The cyber criminals are circulating what the police have termed "misleading" advertisements and reels across various social media platforms. These posts falsely use the CM's image and name to lend credibility to offers of instant loans, loans without a CIBIL score check, guaranteed loans without verification, and fake government-approved financial schemes.
Police officials have made it unequivocally clear that neither the Chief Minister's office nor the state government has announced any such loan schemes. The use of the CM's identity in these promotions is completely unauthorized and illegal.
The Trap: Fake Apps and Data Theft
The fraudsters' modus operandi involves luring potential victims through these ads and then directing them to download counterfeit mobile applications or visit fraudulent websites. They also provide fake WhatsApp numbers operated by the criminal gang.
Once an individual shows interest, the scammers ask for highly sensitive personal information, including:
- Aadhaar card details
- PAN card number
- Bank account information
- One-Time Passwords (OTPs)
Subsequently, the victims are pressured to pay an upfront "processing fee" or an "advance payment." After receiving the money, the criminals typically cut off all communication. In more dangerous scenarios, they misuse the collected personal and financial data to commit further fraud and siphon money from the victims' accounts.
Police Action and Public Advisory
The police have warned of stern legal action against those behind these scams. Charges will include impersonation, cheating, cyber fraud, and the criminal misuse of a public authority's name and image.
To combat this threat, the police have issued a crucial advisory for the public:
- Do not click on suspicious links in social media ads promising easy loans.
- Never install unverified or unknown loan applications.
- Never share OTPs, bank details, Aadhaar, or PAN with unknown individuals or entities.
- Always verify any loan offer directly with authorized banks, registered Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs), or through official government websites.
- Do not make any advance payment for loan processing.
- Immediately report any such fraudulent advertisement to the police.
Officers have also urged those who may have already fallen victim to preserve all evidence, including screenshots, links, phone numbers, and transaction details, as these will be vital for the investigation.
The police have appealed for public cooperation to identify and stop these cyber frauds, emphasizing that vigilance and skepticism towards too-good-to-be-true online offers are the best defenses.
